Do you type "an" MS66 or "a" MS66?
saintguru
Posts: 7,727 ✭✭✭
After all, "an" preceeds a vowel and "M"S is not a vowel, however when you say "M" it's "EM" so it could be construed as vowel-like.
This bothers me all the time. And it's disconcerting.
You guys love being disconcerted. Go at it.
This bothers me all the time. And it's disconcerting.
You guys love being disconcerted. Go at it.
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New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
Lincoln set Colorless Set
type it as it sounds, at least that's how I was taught.
an MS 66, a Mint State 66, a Ms. Smith.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
K S
it's "an ms66" unless it has a cac sticker then it is "a ms66"
That's a good one.
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<< <i>i was always taught it should be "a ms66". >>
BY WHOM?
"A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group. For example, "I would like to go see a movie." Here, we're not talking about a specific movie. We're talking about any movie. There are many movies, and I want to see any movie. I don't have a specific one in mind.
Indefinite Articles: a and an
"A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. For example:
"My daughter really wants a dog for Christmas." This refers to any dog. We don't know which dog because we haven't found the dog yet.
"Somebody call a policeman!" This refers to any policeman. We don't need a specific policeman; we need any policeman who is available.
"When I was at the zoo, I saw an elephant!" Here, we're talking about a single, non-specific thing, in this case an elephant. There are probably several elephants at the zoo, but there's only one we're talking about here.
Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word. So...
a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan
a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used); a university; a unicycle
If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article:
a broken egg
an unusual problem
a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)
Remember, too, that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a group:
I am a teacher. (I am a member of a large group known as teachers.)
Brian is an Irishman. (Brian is a member of the people known as Irish.)
Seiko is a practicing Buddhist. (Seiko is a member of the group of people known as Buddhists.)
<< <i>You guys love being disconcerted. Go at it.
Since I don't have a concert to play until the 3rd, I guess I'm disconcerted for a while.
Choice of article is dependent on phonetics, and not orthographpics, so on the surface, "an" is correct. MS is an abbreviation for "Mint State," so when you read "A/An MS65," do you say or think "A Mint State 65," "An em-ess 65," or "A Mizz 65?" So now we have a single orthographic representation of different phonetic interpretations, each requiring a different selection of indefinite article.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>
<< <i>i was always taught it should be "a ms66". >>
BY WHOM? >>
the only exception to the rule was silent Hs. Like an hourglass...
as for who?
Sister Mary Theresa, Saint Stanislaus Grade School, Bay City, MI!
Do not mess with her, she will hit you with a ruler.
Saintguru, your avatar is wonderfully disturbing!
"No cherubic 1950s children were electrocuted in the making of this image."
To answer the question; I believe "an MS66" is correct.
Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.
https://hjbltd.com/#!/department/us-coins
Exactly!!!
<< <i>Okay, the markets are a train wreck and the financials are getting nuked and this is what's on your mind? Wow
Maybe it's a more tactful way of wondering where he should get his head blown off with "a M16" or "an M16."
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Use a if the next word begins with a consonant SOUND.
This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.
Use AN if the next word begins with a vowel SOUND.
This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.
So if we pronounce it "em-ess-66," that starts with a vowel sound, and it's definitely AN MS-66.
I mean An!
The name is LEE!
<< <i>Ann just feels better! >>
You stay away from Ann.
<< <i>Okay, the markets are a train wreck and the financials are getting nuked and this is what's on your mind? Wow
To answer the question; I believe "an MS66" is correct. >>
Wrong.
I have an MS66 coin for sale.
Correct....
I have a MS66 coin for sale.
Gardnerville, NV
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<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>i was always taught it should be "a ms66". >>
BY WHOM? >>
the only exception to the rule was silent Hs. Like an hourglass...
as for who?
Sister Mary Theresa, Saint Stanislaus Grade School, Bay City, MI!
Do not mess with her, she will hit you with a ruler. >>
the nuns used to sprinkle holy water on me with one hand.. hold up a crusifix with the other while saying our fathers so fast their lips were a blur.... I think they liked me
M is pronounced "em" as in "eminent" and is thus a vowel sound.
A word that starts with an M like motel uses A. For example, "I saw Saintguru's car parked outback at a motel today at lunch."
MS70 starts with a vowel sound and uses "an".
I like how some posters above me have posted the wrong answer with tremendous authority. I used AN internet search to verify my answer is correct before posting.
--Jerry
The Rule
The rule states that “a” should be used before words that begin with consonants (e.g., b, c ,d) while “an” should be used before words that begin with vowels (e.g., a,e,i). Notice, however, that the usage is determined by the pronunciation and not by the spelling, as many people wrongly assume.
You should say, therefore, “an hour” (because hour begins with a vowel sound) and “a history” (because history begins with a consonant sound).
Similarly you should say “a union” even if union begins with a “u.” That is because the pronunciation begins with “yu”, which is a consonant sound.
an MS66 - there is only one answer and only one reason for this and it is law.
the decision whether it should be an "a" or a "an" is predicated on the phonetic spelling of the word following the article. Since MS66 is spelled "emes" (this spelling is the phonetic spelling and sometimes uses special symbols which I can not list here) the article in front of it necessarily must be "an". The English language is the reason that this is a rule. It is very difficult in in efficient for us to pronounce back to back vowels in this fashion - especially an "a" and an "e" so this solves the problem. In general if the subsequent word begins with a vowel sound, "an" is appropriate, if it begins with a plosive, fricative voiced/unvoiced consonant, etc., an "a" will suffice.
Jeff
<< <i>beat you to it ziggy. >>
Nope. That was my second example. I linked to the first one before you, a few posts up.
<< <i>There are several incorrect answers above. The rule is use "a" in front of a consonant SOUND and "an" in front of an in front of a vowel SOUND.
M is pronounced "em" as in "eminent" and is thus a vowel sound.
A word that starts with an M like motel uses A. For example, "I saw Saintguru's car parked outback at a motel today at lunch."
MS70 starts with a vowel sound and uses "an".
I like how some posters above me have posted the wrong answer with tremendous authority. I used AN internet search to verify my answer is correct before posting.
--Jerry >>
too bad none of those internet postings had any references to key
sources. just more posting of other people's opinions of opinions.
there is no correct way i suppose, i just go by what i was taught
and how it was used long ago.
like i mentioned, the silent H is the one key exception... but going
by how it is pronounced is acceptable too i suppose.
<< <i>
<< <i>beat you to it ziggy. >>
Nope. That was my second example. I linked to the first one before you, a few posts up.
Yep, you got the first right answer that I see (I was looking at your second one) but you didn't weave a jab at SG into it. --Jerry
<< <i>
<< <i>Ann just feels better! >>
You stay away from Ann.
.......................
<< <i>Are all of you kidding? The answer is
an MS66 - there is only one answer and only one reason for this and it is law.
the decision whether it should be an "a" or a "an" is predicated on the phonetic spelling of the word following the article. Since MS66 is spelled "emes" (this spelling is the phonetic spelling and sometimes uses special symbols which I can not list here) the article in front of it necessarily must be "an". The English language is the reason that this is a rule. It is very difficult in in efficient for us to pronounce back to back vowels in this fashion - especially an "a" and an "e" so this solves the problem. In general if the subsequent word begins with a vowel sound, "an" is appropriate, if it begins with a plosive, fricative voiced/unvoiced consonant, etc., an "a" will suffice.
Jeff >>
and just who exactly wrote that? where is your reference?
;-)
<<<You stated the rule correctly. "an" precedes a vowel. Therefore its "a" MS66.>>>
Sorry, you are both wrong, it's not a vowel rule but as ziggy correctly states, it is the sound rule. ie Em ess 66 is a consanant so it is an MS-66.
This em one crazy question
"La Vostra Nonna Ha Faccia Del Fungo"
<< <i>
<< <i>There are several incorrect answers above. The rule is use "a" in front of a consonant SOUND and "an" in front of an in front of a vowel SOUND. M is pronounced "em" as in "eminent" and is thus a vowel sound. A word that starts with an M like motel uses A. For example, "I saw Saintguru's car parked outback at a motel today at lunch." MS70 starts with a vowel sound and uses "an". I like how some posters above me have posted the wrong answer with tremendous authority. I used AN internet search to verify my answer is correct before posting. --Jerry >>
too bad none of those internet postings had any references to key sources. just more posting of other people's opinions of opinions. there is no correct way i suppose, i just go by what i was taught and how it was used long ago. like i mentioned, the silent H is the one key exception... but going by how it is pronounced is acceptable too i suppose. >>
Here is a link for you. You'll find the answer under "common mistakes". One of the keys to using the internet is being able to recognize the right answer out of a bunch of wrong or slightly off ones. --jerry
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>There are several incorrect answers above. The rule is use "a" in front of a consonant SOUND and "an" in front of an in front of a vowel SOUND. M is pronounced "em" as in "eminent" and is thus a vowel sound. A word that starts with an M like motel uses A. For example, "I saw Saintguru's car parked outback at a motel today at lunch." MS70 starts with a vowel sound and uses "an". I like how some posters above me have posted the wrong answer with tremendous authority. I used AN internet search to verify my answer is correct before posting. --Jerry >>
too bad none of those internet postings had any references to key sources. just more posting of other people's opinions of opinions. there is no correct way i suppose, i just go by what i was taught and how it was used long ago. like i mentioned, the silent H is the one key exception... but going by how it is pronounced is acceptable too i suppose. >>
<a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://englishplus.com/grammar/mistcont.htm" target=blank>Here</A> is a link for you. You'll find the answer under "common mistakes". One of the keys to using the internet is being able to recognize the right answer out of a bunch of wrong or slightly off ones. --jerry >>
that is your reference? a random website trying to sell english software
written by a teacher?
if that is how you find referneces i assume wikepedia is the gospel
truth too!
<< <i>if that is how you find referneces i assume wikepedia is the gospel
truth too! >>
Okay, I signed up for a free 30 day trial of the online Chicago Manual of Style at http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org
Claiming fair use here, here's what it says about 'a' and 'an':
5.73 Choosing “a” or “an”
With the indefinite article, the choice of a or an depends on the sound of the word it precedes. A comes before words with a consonant sound, including /y/, /h/, and /w/, no matter how the word is spelled {a eulogy} {a hotel suite} {a Ouachita tribe member}. An comes before words with a vowel sound {an LSAT exam room} {an X-Files episode} {an hour ago}. See also 5.202, 7.46, 15.9.
I hope this isn't some fly-by-night reference...