https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:47:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grammar-a-vs-an-with-an-abbreviation#post-1146132 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:49:36 +0000 artsyfartsy 1146132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would use AN. It really depends if whoever is reading it reads the abbreviation or what it stands for. It sounds silly if you read it as "Are you getting an high efficiency washer?" But you can't know how people will read it. So AN is correct. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grammar-a-vs-an-with-an-abbreviation#post-1146058 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 17:46:20 +0000 MaisyMay 1146058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grammar-a-vs-an-with-an-abbreviation#post-1146028 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 17:20:58 +0000 Adira 1146028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, @Freckles nailed it - use "an" in this case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grammar-a-vs-an-with-an-abbreviation#post-1146014 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 17:13:15 +0000 avivoca 1146014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would use An in this case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grammar-a-vs-an-with-an-abbreviation#post-1145960 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 16:23:20 +0000 Mrsbells 1145960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>it should be AN.<br /> Like @Freckles: said An always comes before a vowel or vowel sound </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grammar-a-vs-an-with-an-abbreviation#post-1145954 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 16:20:19 +0000 erinpye 1145954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grammar-a-vs-an-with-an-abbreviation#post-1145953 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 16:20:16 +0000 lawbee11 1145953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would use an in that situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grammar-a-vs-an-with-an-abbreviation#post-1145951 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 16:19:30 +0000 Freckles 1145951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you getting an HE washer.</p> <p>You always use "an" if it's a vowel or a consonant that sounds like a vowel. </p> <p><a href="http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/a-versus-an?page=all" rel="nofollow">http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/a-versus-an?page=all</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grammar-a-vs-an-with-an-abbreviation#post-1145931 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 16:05:15 +0000 swurlygurl 1145931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What I was trying to ask "Are you getting a high efficiency washer?" But, I wanted to abbreviate. Should it have read:<br /> Are you getting a HE washer?<br /> or<br /> Are you getting an HE washer?</p> <p>Opinions on this grammar rule?</p> <p>I usually judge it based on when reading it back whether or not you say the abbreviation, or if you would actually say the real word. </p>