preposition with abbreviation

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panosgr

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Hello all,

In my text I want to write "An AAA protocol will be used to offer authentication, authorization and accounting".

Should I say "An AAA" because it starts with a vowel or "A AAA" because someone will read it as "a triple A protocol" ?

I have also been told that you use "an" before an abbreviation regardless of the starting letter... is that true?

Thanks a lot!
 

riquecohen

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Hello all,

In my text I want to write "An AAA protocol will be used to offer authentication, authorization and accounting".

Should I say "An AAA" because it starts with a vowel or "A AAA" because someone will read it as "a triple A protocol" ?

I have also been told that you use "an" before an abbreviation regardless of the starting letter... is that true? No.

Thanks a lot!

In the first sentence, you should use the article "an" because it is followed by a vowel sound. If you say that a bond has an AAA rating, it may very well be read as "an AAA rating" or a "triple A" rating." As for what you've been told about using "an" before any abbreviation, that is not correct. "He has a PhD from Yale."

BTW, your title should read "Article with abbreviation."
 

panosgr

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2009
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Student or Learner
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Greek
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Greece
Current Location
UK
Thank you so very much!

So "An AAA protocol" it is :)

ps. sorry about the title...you are right...
 
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