Dis Grammar experts, which of these sentences is correct?

[moon]

He was wearing an NSF cap

Or

He was wearing a NSF cap?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

He was wearing an NSF cap

Or

He was wearing a NSF cap?

I was taught if the word following "a" was a vowel sound at the beginning, it's "an". I guess "N" is sort of a vowel sound (eh-nnn). So I'd say He was wearing an NSF cap.

 

[low-key]

I must have been sick the day they taught us this

 

[Wubar]

I was taught if the word following "a" was a vowel sound at the beginning, it's "an". I guess "N" is sort of a vowel sound (eh-nnn). So I'd say He was wearing an NSF cap.

Agreed. Another example is to use the word "hour".

"It's going to take an hour" is grammatically correct.

"It's going to take a hour" is not grammatically correct.

 

[moon]

I was taught if the word following "a" was a vowel sound at the beginning, it's "an". I guess "N" is sort of a vowel sound (eh-nnn). So I'd say He was wearing an NSF cap.

Really? I thought the rule was applied without exception. "an" after a e i o u. N is a not a vowel. I'm having this argument with someone, and I was sure that the correct form is is "wearing a NSF cap"

 

[Wubar]

Quick, someone type it into Microsoft Word and run the grammar check on it!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Really? I thought the rule was applied without exception. "an" after a e i o u. N is a not a vowel. I'm having this argument with someone, and I was sure that the correct form is is "wearing a NSF cap"

Correct, "N" is not a vowel. I said "vowel sound" . "N" has an "eh" sound at the start of it (see what I did there?).

Like saying "it was an honor to escort you". "H" is not a vowel, but the vowel sound "ah" starts word honor.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Quick, someone type it into Microsoft Word and run the grammar check on it!

OK, I did that. Both are correct.

 

[moon]

Correct "N" is not a vowel. I said "vowel sound" . "N" has an "eh" sound at the start of it (see what I did there?).

Like saying "it was an honor to escort you". "H" is not a vowel, but the vowel sound "ah" starts word honor.

Thanks You learn something new every day

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

The first one needs a period, so lack of punctuation makes it wrong. The second ones wrong unless your trying to pose it as a question.
So I say both are wrong, did I win?

 

[NFLDERS]

The first one needs a period, so lack of punctuation makes it wrong. The second ones wrong unless your trying to pose it as a question.
So I say both are wrong, did I win?

I vote for low-key. He gets an e for effort!

 

[NFLDERS]

I must have been sick the day they taught us this

Eh!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Really? I thought the rule was applied without exception. "an" after a e i o u. N is a not a vowel. I'm having this argument with someone, and I was sure that the correct form is is "wearing a NSF cap"

It’s based on sounds. “She has a one- track mind.”

The word “ one” starts with O but you use “a” instead of “an” based on sound.

 

[SirDuff]

Correct, "N" is not a vowel. I said "vowel sound" . "N" has an "eh" sound at the start of it (see what I did there?).

Like saying "it was an honor to escort you". "H" is not a vowel, but the vowel sound "ah" starts word honor.

Agreed. Go by how it sounds

For example, it's an MBA (since the sound is 'em') but a Masters of Business Administration.

 

[kaytieeldr]

He was wearing an NSF cap.

He was wearing a North Shore Frogmen cap.

 

[Christine]

We use a LOT of acronyms where I work so I see presentations/slides with this issue. Most people base it on sounds; however, I have seen people use an "an" in a situation like this because they believe that even though an acronym is there, you should "assume" the real word is there. Personally, I don't like that and I base it on sound.

 

[MommyinHonduras]

I feel like I have been freed by this information. I speak based by sound but always wrote passed on letter and thought it awkward but correct grammar.

 

[L&Lfan]

It's all about ease in pronuncuation. "An" goes before a vowel sound. Same concept with "the". It should be pronounced as "thee" before a vowel sound. It happens in other languages too, such as Spanish. For example, Mary and Elizabeth is María e Isabel, not María y Isabel. There's a technical name for it but I forget it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

"A NSF cap" sounds choppy.

"An NSF cap" has a smoother flow.

So I vote for "An NSF cap".

 

[Micca]

So...everybody here knows what "NSF" is except me?