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Subject:Re: Articles and URL From:Janice Gelb <janiceg -at- marvin -dot- eng -dot- sun -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 16 Apr 2001 16:49:24 -0700 (PDT)
Jessica Pease <JPEASE -at- Partnerware -dot- com> wrote:
>
> Most people I know choose the preceding article for an acronym based on the
> pronunciation of the acronym. What about in the case of the acronym "URL?"
> I have heard it pronounced "Ewe Are El," and "Earl." So, would you use
> "an URL," or "a URL?" I know this is trivial but I've had to use this
> construction in documentation and I've done it both ways and someone
> invariably pointed out my error either way. I'd like to be able to say
> something like, "the majority of technical communcators choose to do it
> like so."
>
I doubt you're going to be able to find a definitive agreement
on pronunciation, although I must admit that I agree with
others who have responded that I prefer "you-are-el" to "earl."
The best way to handle acronyms with more than one possible
pronunciation is to establish the pronunciation on first
usage: "A URL (pronounced "you-are-el") is a web address..."
That way even if someone generally pronounces it the other
way, they can't argue that your choice of preceding articles
is wrong!
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