"An RV"?

[DonTom]

"The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing"

Shouldn't it be "a RV" instead of "an RV" since "R" is not a vowel?

" an" The form of a used before words beginning with a vowel or with an unpronounced h: an elephant; an hour." (1994 AHD3). 

                                      -Don-

 

[Tom and Margi]

Well, maybe or maybe not. 

If one reads or speaks RV as recreational vehicle, then "a" reads best.  If one reads or speaks RV as "Ar V", then "an" reads best.  Usage rules are changing rapidly in this day and time.  Some of the recent additions to various dictionaries are pretty hard to fathom by us old rigid grammer buffs.  :

Margi

 

[DonTom]

"If one reads or speaks RV as "Ar V", then "an" reads best."

Okay, sounds good to me!

"The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an AR-V or an interest in AR-Ving" ;D

-Don- SSF, CA
​

 

[Tom and Margi]

It's pretty comforting that we don't have anything more important to worry about than this.  ;D ;D   Well, at least not today!

Margi

 

[Tom]

The first time anyone has complained about our grammar in over 17 years. Don was around at the old place too  ;D

 

[DonTom]

The first time anyone has complained about our grammar in over 17 years.

Was that also over the "an RV" then too?

-Don- SSF, CA
​

 

[Tom]

Yes it was Don. I guess you're just a slow reader  ;D

 

[DonTom]

Yes it was Don. I guess you're just a slow reader  ;D

By any chance, was it also me who mentioned it 17 years ago?

BTW, I might be slow, but not nearly as slow as you are to fix it, so people like me won't mention it!

I mean 17 years and you still have not yet corrected it?

Isn't fixing stuff like that the main job of the Forum Administrator? ;D

-Don- SSF, CA
​

 

[Tom]

By any chance, was it also me who mentioned it 17 years ago?

Don't recall it being mentioned before.

.... but not nearly as slow as you are to fix it ....

LOL Don, you sound like my other half.

 

[Rancher Will]

Grammar rules are just as flexible as needed.

I recall reading that Sir Winston Churchill once received a letter from a school teacher taking him to tack for his grammar. She specifically complained that he ended sentenses with a preposition.

Sir Winston wote a letter back with the statement, "This is the sort of nonsence up with which I will not put."

 

[Wendy]

I mean 17 years and you still have not yet corrected it?

Why would he correct it when it ain't wrong ?

 

[AverageBOB]

I fail at english, I barely get by in conversations haha.....

(no not foreign) the way the language is structured just sucks.

 

[BobNSam]

piece of info matches my long ago memory re A vs AN...

from

English-Zone.com
A/AN - Lesson on Articles 

WHEN TO USE -A-​

Use a if the next word begins with a consonant SOUND. This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.​

a box a cat a university          (university begins with a consonant sound) a unicorn            (unicorn begins with a consonant sound) a European trip  (European begins with a consonant sound) a hotel                (hotel begins with a consonant sound)

WHEN TO USE -AN-​

Use AN if the next word begins with a vowel SOUND. This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.​

an atom an entrance an ice cream cone an uncle                  (uncle begins with a vowel sound) an hour                  (the h is silent, thus a vowel sound) added by moi an RV                    (RV begins with a vowel sound [Ar])

 

I support leaving "The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing" as currently posted.

 

[AverageBOB]

piece of info matches my long ago memory re A vs AN...

from

English-Zone.com
A/AN - Lesson on Articles 

WHEN TO USE -A-​

Use a if the next word begins with a consonant SOUND. This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.​

a box a cat a university          (university begins with a consonant sound) a unicorn            (unicorn begins with a consonant sound) a European trip  (European begins with a consonant sound) a hotel                (hotel begins with a consonant sound)

WHEN TO USE -AN-​

Use AN if the next word begins with a vowel SOUND. This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.​

an atom an entrance an ice cream cone an uncle                  (uncle begins with a vowel sound) an hour                  (the h is silent, thus a vowel sound) added by moi an RV                    (RV begins with a vowel sound [Ar])

 

I support leaving "The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing" as currently posted.

I dictate which one to use by (are they plural? Is it a particular thing?

I win?

 

[Molaker]

I dictate which one to use by (are they plural? Is it a particular thing?

I win?

Gee, Bob.  Now I understand your 1st post in this thread. 

 

[Marc L]

Lyrics from ROCK YOU, by Helix:

Gimme an R...

When I am unsure how to write something, I rephrase it to eliminate it.


"The friendliest place on the web for RV owners or anyone interested in RVing"

 

[DonTom]

Lyrics from ROCK YOU, by Helix:


When I am unsure how to write something, I rephrase it to eliminate it.


"The friendliest place on the web for RV owners or anyone interested in RVing"

That sounds perfect! Go for it! Who can change it here?

-Don-

 

[Molaker]

Lyrics from ROCK YOU, by Helix:


When I am unsure how to write something, I rephrase it to eliminate it.


"The friendliest place on the web for RV owners or anyone interested in RVing"

My what a tangled web we weave...Since RV is just an acronym for Recreational Vehicle, how can you use the term "RVing"?  Shouldn't you rephrase that part, too?

 

[DonTom]

Why would he correct it when it ain't wrong ?

Perhaps if it's wrong or not depends only on whom asked. It seems my dictionary says it's wrong and so do I. Doesn't that settle it? ;D

-Don- SSF, CA

 

[maddog348]

A 'Recreational Vehicle' ~ An 'RV' (vowel sound.)  JM2?