Grammar Help

[david64]

This is probably not the best place for this question, but its the best suited topic on here.

I am just checking a large document for spelling and what not and there are repeated occurrences of the string, 'a XFL'. I think that 'an XFL' sounds more fluid, but I believe that the former is correct.

Is there any fascistic grammar hounds that can lend their experience on this?

 

[Cornish Steve]

This is probably not the best place for this question, but its the best suited topic on here.

I am just checking a large document for spelling and what not and there are repeated occurrences of the string, 'a XFL'. I think that 'an XFL' sounds more fluid, but I believe that the former is correct.

Is there any fascistic grammar hounds that can lend their experience on this?

Yup. The general rule is to choose 'a' or 'an' based on how you say the word. If you say 'cafuffle', it's a cafuffle. If you say 'ex eff ell', then it's an ex eff ell.

 

[david64]

Thanks for your reply Cornish Steve. So you are saying that because the X in XFL is pronounced as 'ex' and e is a vowel that I should be writing 'an XFL'?

 

[Cornish Steve]

Thanks for your reply Cornish Steve. So you are saying that because the X in XFL is pronounced as 'ex' and e is a vowel that I should be writing 'an XFL'?

Exactly.

 

[Dawg]

If the 'x' is pronounced 'ex' as per your example, then it might be best to use 'an'.
If it is pronounced 'z' as in 'xerox', then 'a' is better.

As Steve says, the general rule is how you say the word.

 

[Jeff FV]

You take an X-Ray, you don't take a X-Ray, so, as earlier posters have said, in this case it would be an XFL.

Jeff

p.s. what is an XFL?!

 

[Julian]

I concur with Steve. The same principle also underlies the debate regarding "a hotel" or "an hotel". People are often taught that the correct form is to treat "h" like a vowel and always use "an" but I looked this up a while ago and found an article on some university web site that said that the "an hotel" usage came about because in the past the traditional pronunciation was to not pronounce the "h" so people were saying "an 'otel" so of course you use "an". Nowadays most people do pronounce the "h" so "an hotel" cansound clumsy and "a hotel" or "a hospital" is perfectly acceptable. This is just more evidence that the correct usage is to follow the real-life pronunciation of the word.

- Julian

 

[david64]

Thank you all for your input

@Jeff - XFL stands for eXtensible Form Language, which is an XML transformation language to automate, simplify and standardise the handling of HTML form.

 

[Cornish Steve]

People are often taught that the correct form is to treat "h" like a vowel and always use "an" but I looked this up a while ago and found an article on some university web site that said that the "an hotel" usage came about because in the past the traditional pronunciation was to not pronounce the "h" so people were saying "an 'otel" so of course you use "an".

Which is why, in Cornwall, I lived in an house.