By Abbreviations, Consonants

I suppose any hard and fast rule is not warranted. Consider that others argued that acronym and abbreviation are not the same thing: "There is a difference between acronyms and abbreviations. An acronym is usually formed by taking the first initials of a phrase or compounded-word and using...

--- There was formerly a respectable tradition (17-19c) of using the apostrophe for noun plurals, especially in loanwords ending in a vowel (as in We do confess Errata's, Leonard Lichfield, 1641, and Comma's are used, Philip Luckcombe, 1771) and in the consonants s, z, ch, sh, (as in waltz's and...

Hi, I have one question regarding acronyms: Following Michael Swan book (Practical English Usage) articles are usually drop in acronyms, considering acronyms the abbreviations that are pronounced as words. So, if 'FBi' is a word, we should write: I received a call from FBI instead...

Hi, Point well taken. All I can do is throw myself on the mercy of the APOSTROPHE PROTECTION SOCIETY and have my counsel enter a plea in mitigation: My Lords, My client deeply regrets 'shooting from the hip' in this matter. As regards the rude insertion of an apostrophe, he acknowledges the...

Actually, the rule is pretty simple: it depends on the *initial sound* of the following word. If the sound is consonant, we use "a". If it is a vowel sound, we use "an". an MP (pronounced "an em pee") = in Britain, a Member of Parliament See? "A" Member (consonant sound) of Parliament. What...

Hi, you asked Which is the correct usage please: " I have ordered a / an MRI (magnetic resonance scan) and will review the patient following this." Rule: With single letters and groups of letters that are pronounced as individual letters, be guided by the pronunciation: a B road, a TUC leader;...