An S&W or a S&W

[Richard2003]

I never say "S and W"
I say "Smith and Wesson"
Therefore I will refer to one as "a" Smith and Wesson not "an" S&W even if I spell it S&W.
I think my way is the proper and most respected way.

 

[Richard2003]

I never say "S and W"
I say "Smith and Wesson"
Therefore I will refer to one as "a" Smith and Wesson not "an" S&W even if I spell it S&W.
I think my way is the proper and most respected way.

 

[ALJ-28]

To each his own.

 

[InolaOK]

I just refer to mine as "Smiff's".

 

[ElToro]

this ones kinda a wobbler. i was taught that when you write it " a Smith & Wesson" is proper and " an S&W" is proper becuase you would use "an" before all words starting with a vowel and words that sound like thy start with a vowel like the letter "S" being soft. but "Smith" is not that same "esss" sound.

i just call them my babies

 

[yashua-p]

Richard, you don't get out much, do you?

yashua

 

[whitecoyote]

Originally posted by Richard2003:
I never say "S and W"
I say "Smith and Wesson"
Therefore I will refer to one as "a" Smith and Wesson not "an" S&W even if I spell it S&W.
I think my way is the proper and most respected way.

You are correct, "A Smith & Wesson" would be proper grammer.
"An" would be used in front of a vowel.

 

[Ron H.]

I think my way is the proper and most respected way.

Sir, you can think that if you wish, but it's not correct. If it were, we'd write "an radar scope." ("Radar" is a an abbreviation of "radio detection and ranging.")

The general rule about "a" and "an" with abbreviations is to base the article on how the abbreviation, not the full phrase, is pronounced in speech. If the abbreviation starts with a consonant sound, then it gets the article "a," as in, "a Federal Communications Commission ruling" (starts with a "fed" sound). If the abbreviation starts with a vowel sound, it gets the article "an," as in, "an FCC ruling" (starts with an "eff" sound). As in these examples, sometimes the abbreviation takes a different article than the full expression does; this happens with some frequency.

So anyway, "S&W," because it starts with a vowel sound ("ess"), properly takes the article "an," as in "an S&W revolver is ...."

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[Richard2003]

In this special case people never say S and W.
They say Smith and Wesson.
That makes it an exception to that rule.

 

[Jack Flash]

I'd be happy if people quit saying "calvary holster"...

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Originally posted by Jack Flash:
I'd be happy if people quit saying "calvary holster"...

When I was a kid, I used to wonder what Jesus had done that was so wrong that the US Cavalry was mad at him. Boy, did I feel STUPID when I finally learned the difference.

Regards,

Dave

 

[handejector]

Originally posted by Jack Flash:
I'd be happy if people quit saying "calvary holster"...

OK.
"calvary sabre".

 

[Richard2003]

You may have a valid point.

Originally posted by yashua-p:
Richard, you don't get out much, do you?

yashua

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I'm reporting this thread to Lee-I'm getting a headache reading it-it needs to be locked

 

[mississippi revolverman]

" A rose is a rose, by any other name is still a rose"

 

[Richard2003]

It is "a" headache but if you used the word "honest" which still starts with an "h" you would say "an" honest person.

Originally posted by CAJUNLAWYER:
I'm reporting this thread to Lee-I'm getting a headache reading it-it needs to be locked

 

[ChinaSeaSailor]

when someone is way out in left field like this - you ever want to do this?

 

[Jack Flash]

Originally posted by handejector:

Originally posted by Jack Flash:
I'd be happy if people quit saying "calvary holster"...

OK.
"calvary sabre".

Please! Everyone knows it's "saber".

 

[Airpark]

Sounds like something my mom, a school teacher, used to tell me. "Bill, don't say ain't 'cause ain't, ain't right."

The other thing that gets my goat and knocks my hat in the creek is that everybody now-a-days ends the sentence with a preposition.

"Where is he AT"..Mom used to say he is between the A and the T.

I really miss her.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Well as I am a, an, are redneck,I cannot tell the difference!