Thread: Grammar gurus: an RC or a RC

To say the abbreviation? That would be "an Arr-See".
If you're saying what the abbreviation stands for, then, of course, "a reality check".

Even though "RC", the abbreviation, starts with a consonant, the first sound in its pronunciation is a vowel, hence "an RC".

It depends on how your mind reads it. If in the real world you always call it a "Reality Check" then "a RC" should be READ "a reality check", which is correct.

Then again, if you read it shorthand, as in "arrr see", then "an RC" makes sense, because if you're talking, and you say "a RC", you sound like you need a education .

That being said, just written down, "a RC" is probably fine.

Originally Posted by Merlock

To say the abbreviation? That would be "an Arr-See".
If you're saying what the abbreviation stands for, then, of course, "a reality check".

Even though "RC", the abbreviation, starts with a consonant, the first sound in its pronunciation is a vowel, hence "an RC".

But I mean when in writing, not in speaking.

OK, I searched some on the net, and came to the conclusion that there isn't a solution to this. It depends on how you pronounce the acronym ( as letters or as the words it represents ). But if an acronym is often pronouced either way, then there is no way to decide which is the right way and you can choose whatever you want.