Poll: Grammar Wizards, educate me!

[Gather]

Something that has been bugging me on quite a few forums now and I just want to ask for the gramatically correct way of saying it. Is it:

1) An MMORPG
Or
2) A MMORPG

(So, is it meant to be 'an' before an acronym or is it meant to be an A?)

 

[TaborMallory]

In this particular case, it would be "an".

Though I haven't technically learned this yet, I always write it the way I would say it out loud. Can anyone check me on this?

EDIT:
I think I got it. With acronyms, one would write it as if they were writing the whole word.
i.e. A massively multiplayer... as opposed to an massively multiplayer etc. etc..

So, "A MMORPG" when writing and "An MMORPG" when speaking.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

Something that has been bugging me on quiet a few forums now and I just want to ask for the gramatically correct way of saying it. Is it:

1) An MMORPG
Or
2) A MMORPG

(So, is it meant to be 'an' before an acronym or is it meant to be an A?)

I believe quite is the word you're looking for.

But seriously, I think its number 2.

 

[Gather]

Something that has been bugging me on quiet a few forums now and I just want to ask for the gramatically correct way of saying it. Is it:

1) An MMORPG
Or
2) A MMORPG

(So, is it meant to be 'an' before an acronym or is it meant to be an A?)

I believe quite is the word you're looking for.

But seriously, I think its number 2.

Edited and shush, my shame should not be shown

 

[WolfLordAndy]

Number 2, while pronouncing it will be number 1, you write it down like number 2.

An is only used for words begining with a, e, i, o or u.

If you wrote it out fully (massively multiplayer online role playing game) you'd use "a" wouldn't you?

 

[black lincon]

It's a, you only use an when the word starts with a vowel, like "an acronym", or when the word starts with the same sound as a vowel, which unfortunately I cant think of any examples currently.

 

[RICK BO]

Personally, I always use 'An' whenever I pronounce an acronym.

Or rather, when I spell out an acronym in speech. "It's an M-M-O-R-P-G"

 

[quiet_samurai]

A very good question, I personally say "an MMO", but it probably depends on where you are from.

 

[WolfLordAndy]

Just did a quick google for articles about MMORPGs, and all the cases I found used "a MMORPG".

 

[petrolmonkey]

I just say it like Yahtzee so A Mumorpogur....Anyone else?

 

[TheFacelessOne]

Two, judging by what I learned, an is only before a word that starts with a vowel-a,e,i,o,u

 

[trollboy]

Speaking tends to use incorrect grammar. Just because you say, "an MMORPG", that doesn't mean it is right. "A MMORPG" is correct.

 

[TaborMallory]

I just say it like Yahtzee so A Mumorpogur....Anyoone else?

Admittedly yes.

 

[Aenir]

The correct term is Grammar "Nazis", not "Wizards".

 

[vede]

"An."

"An" is for terms that start with a vowel sound.

So, in a phonetic form, "An emm-emm-oh-ar-pee-gee."

"An eff-pee-ess."

"A see-dee."

Number 2, while pronouncing it will be number 1, you write it down like number 2.

An is only used for words begining with a, e, i, o or u.

If you wrote it out fully (massively multiplayer online role playing game) you'd use "a" wouldn't you?

But whether or not "an" or "a" is used depends on the way the actual term in the sentence sounds. And when an acronym is written, it is usually spelled out in the reader's head. How many people actually pronounce "massively multiplayer online role playing game" when they read "MMORPG"? I doubt many do, so when a person reads "a MMORPG" the pronunciation sounds totally off-kilter.

 

[justnotcricket]

The correct term is Grammar "Nazis", not "Wizards".

Now, now, is it really being a Grammar Nazi if the person *asked* for help? =P

Anyway, I've wondered this before, too. Technically, if you expand the acronym to 'Massively Multiplayer...' it should be said with 'a', as others above have stated. My personal preference is for 'an' however, since whenever I see MMORPG I think of 'em em oh are pee gee'; hence, you need the 'an' before the implied vowel of 'em'. If I see it with 'a' or hear someone use 'a' for the the *acronym* (not the expanded version), it always sounds cute but poorly educated, kind of like a little kid who hasn't learned to differentiate the indefinite articles yet =) Heck, technically I think you're even supposed to use 'an' before words beginning with 'h'...=)

*edit* Ah! Ninja'd! =P

 

[smokeybearsb]

Using "a" just doesn't sound right. It makes me want to vomit. I believe it should be an, when saying a letter. Depends on the letter though. You wouldn't say "an b" but "an m" sounds right.

Would you say "an m" or "a m?" You would use an in that case, and because you're pronouncing MMORPG as "em em oh are pee gee" you would use "an."

Ninja'd by this guy: vdgmprgrmr

 

[santaandy]

the letter m makes a sound that starts with a vowel. vowel sounds always get "an."

 

[fedpayne]

Like people say - if you just say each of the letters, then you would wanna stick an AN in there. But if you were saying all the words, or saying Mummorpergur, then you'd want A.

 

[tuskah]

I was going to say surely the spoken would be 'A MMORPG' not 'An' Unless theres some crazy grammar rule I dont know ?

fedpayne is spot on - if it's an acronym (said like a word) it starts with the consonant 'm' sound; therefore use 'A'. If it's an initialism (spoken as individual letters) it starts with a vowel 'e' sound; therefore you would use 'An'.

It's no different to 'A hostel' versus 'An honest mistake'.

An is only used for words begining with a, e, i, o or u.

Not always true: see above. Keep in mind that 'an' is only there to assist with pronunciation by avoiding consecutive vowel sounds - something we native English speakers aren't good at