Re: Fix typos - "an" instead of "a"

On Wed, Dec 8, 2021 at 5:32 PM Greg Nancarrow <gregn4422(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote:

> On Thu, Dec 9, 2021 at 11:25 AM David G. Johnston
> <david(dot)g(dot)johnston(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote:
> >
> >> - # safe: cross compilers may not add the suffix if given an `-o'
> >> + # safe: cross compilers may not add the suffix if given a `-o'
> >> # argument, so we may need to know it at that point already.
> >> On this one, I think that you are right, and I can see that this is
> >> the most common practice (aka grep --oids). But my brain also tells
> >> me that this is not completely wrong either. Thoughts?
> >>
> >
> > I would read that aloud most comfortably using "an". I found an article
> that seems to further support this since it both sounds like a vowel (oh)
> and is also a letter (oh).
> >
> > https://www.grammar.com/a-vs-an-when-to-use
> >
>
> What about the "-" before the "o"?
> Wouldn't it be read as "dash o" or "minus o"? This would mean "a" is
> correct, not "an", IMHO.
>

Yeah, I was treating the leading dash as being silent...the syntax dash(es)
for single and multi-character arguments seems unimportant to read aloud in
the general sense. If one does read them then yes, "a" is correct.
Lacking any documented preference I would then just go with what is
prevalent in existing usage.

David J.