>OK, I have a really stupid question...
>
>my English teacher was having a cow (or a Triumph) about me using "an MG"
>in a sentence I wrote. I don't think I have ever seen "a MG" in my life,
>it just sounds dumb. My teacher does have a point, but anyone know why we
>do this?
The Council of Biology Editors Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers
(6th Ed., 1997) states that "a" is used before consonant _sounds_ and "an"
is used before vowel _sounds_ (my emphasis).
This is the most current grammar guide I have.
Clearly the "M" of "MG" begins with a vowel sound, making the use of "an"
correct in both speech and print.
Your teacher may want to update her reference guides.
Jeff
_____________________________________________________MV
Jeffrey H. Boatright, PhD
Senior Editor, Molecular Vision
http://www.emory.edu/molvis
jboatri@emory.edu
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