Another Grammar Question

[StlSluggers]

I know that AA left this conservatively run country for the liberal confines of Europe, but I'm hoping that someone else might know the answer to this question.

When you are writing a sentence using an abbreviation that is preceded by an article (a,an,the), do you use the article that is appropriate to the literal pronunciation of the abbreviation, or do you use the article that is appropriate to the unabbreviated pronunciation of the word?

For example, which sentence is correct:

1. The player had 3 hits and an RBI, or…
2. The player had 3 hits and a RBI (since you would literally say "a run batted in")?

[Laurence]

and is always followed by a

[BigMusky]

I thought you only used "an" if the word following it began with a vowel...so I am not sure why you would ever put "an" in front of RBI. I am an engineer though, so dont take my word for it.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

I thought you only used "an" if the word following it began with a vowel...so I am not sure why you would ever put "an" in front of RBI. I am an engineer though, so dont take my word for it.

I would use an in that case since it sounds better, but so am I so WTF do I know about this stuff.

[StlSluggers]

and is always followed by a

Okay. How about w/out the conjunction?

He had an/a RBI?

[RugbyD]

and is always followed by a

no, musky is right, depends on what sound the following word starts with. In this case it just depends if you are planning on saying "R" or "run". Either will work in this case since the reader has to take what you give them.

[StlSluggers]

Either will work in this case since the reader has to take what you give them.

I like that. The reader takes what you give them. Let me try this on for size:

My l77t sklz wl tak u down! Prepare to get pwnd!!!

[go_jays_go]

Either will work in this case since the reader has to take what you give them.

I like that. The reader takes what you give them. Let me try this on for size:

My l77t sklz wl tak u down! Prepare to get pwnd!!!

I've always wondered this..What does pwned mean?

[theskaboss]

Either will work in this case since the reader has to take what you give them.

I like that. The reader takes what you give them. Let me try this on for size:

My l77t sklz wl tak u down! Prepare to get pwnd!!!

I've always wondered this..What does pwned mean?

It was a typo in a videogame when the programmer meant to say "owned", and for some reason it caught fire...

[acsguitar]

Either will work in this case since the reader has to take what you give them.

I like that. The reader takes what you give them. Let me try this on for size:

My l77t sklz wl tak u down! Prepare to get pwnd!!!

I've always wondered this..What does pwned mean?

It was a typo in a videogame when the programmer meant to say "owned", and for some reason it caught fire...

Yea its funny...Was it like warcraft or something?

Anyways grammar is boring