Subject: Re: misc/446: installation script typos (text messages...)
To: Charles M. Hannum <mycroft@gnu.ai.mit.edu>
From: Herb Peyerl <Herb.Peyerl@sidney.novatel.ca>
List: netbsd-bugs
Date: 09/16/1994 07:34:50
:    > all of the grammar rules i learned said that it should be 'a' not
:    > 'an'...
:    The rules I learned say that it depends on how you pronounce "fstab".
: 
: The grammar rules I was taught are quite clear that the spelling and
: pronunciation of the acronym's expansion, rather than the spelling and
: pronunciation of the acronym itself, are what affect grammar.  Hence,
: I always say `a NFS server', or `a MMU', or whatever.

Just to make a huge sweeping generalization, I've noticed that
around these parts, people typically would say "eff-ess-tab" or 
"enn-eff-ess" or "bee-ess-dee-eye"... Whenever I see Chris/Adam/Charles
etc or other US people involved in the industry, they pronounce things
like:

"bizzdee"  (BSDI)
"effsuck" (fsck)
"fizztab" (fstab)

I wonder if it's an American vs. Canadian thing?

(then of course; Chris Hopp's says "hackey" (hockey) but that's another 
problem. )

How 'bout:

"Creating a(n) fstab...." ???

hpeyerl@novatel.ca                           |  NovAtel Communications Ltd.
hpeyerl@fsa.ca                               | <nothing I say matters anyway>
 "A sucking chest wound is nature's way of telling you to slow down."