One thing that is nails on chalkboard to me is when I hear my fellow nurses use double negatives and other blatant grammar mistakes. I'm speaking of English as a first language, domestically born and raised people.
I feel as this detracts from the professional image of nursing. We are supposed to be educated professionals. Poor grammar makes nursing look like a blue collar trade to those who are educated, such as our physicians and many members of the public.
Let me clarify that I don't harshly judge the intelligence or moral character of people with poor grammar. But, I feel strongly that nurses should project an image of being educated professionals in our speech and demeanor. Thanks for reading.
"an RN" is correct, because RN is a recognized title. Besides, say it to yourself "a RN" - it sounds ridiculous unless you are pronouncing "a" as "uh".
Where did you get your information from?? I haven't been able to find any information regarding rules when dealing with abbreviations.
I ask because you wouldn't call a CPA "an CPA" and that is a "recognized title"... KWIM? (there are others too, I'm just too tired to think of them... (MD, PhD, CFP)
It can't just be because it sounds right....can it???
I'm just curious if "an RN" can be correct if "an Registered Nurse" is not??? Where is the guidebook on this??? :trout:
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where did you get your information from?? i haven't been able to find any information regarding rules when dealing with abbreviations.
i ask because you wouldn't call a cpa "an cpa" and that is a "recognized title"... kwim? (there are others too, i'm just too tired to think of them... (md, phd, cfp)
it can't just be because it sounds right....can it???
i'm just curious if "an rn" can be correct if "an registered nurse" is not??? where is the guidebook on this??? :trout:
the purpose of "an" vs "a" is to ease pronunciation when the indefinite article ("a") is followed by a word that begins with a vowel sound.
since "rn" begins with a word that has a vowel sound ("are"), it is preceded by "an" instead of "a."
since "cpa" begins with a word that does not have a vowel sound ("cee"), it is preceded by "a."
i'm trying to remember where i learned this.......i think it was high school english. i'll try to see if i can find something to support the info, but that is how i remember learning it.
Although maybe not official sources, here are a couple of links explaining the a/an rules. It depends on the sound made by the beginning of the following word, not the first letter of the following word.
RN - starts with the vowel sound 'ah'
registered - starts with the consonant sound 'rrr'
Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.
Reading this thread has been a lot of fun. I thought I was alone here with my strong feelings about grammar, spelling, and word usage.
No one seems to remember how to use reflexive pronouns and objective pronouns. During "happy talk" the reporter tells the anchor, "Thanks for inviting Jane and myself for dinner on Saturday." Conan asks Jay, "How about inviting Jimmy and I over to test drive that Shelby Cobra?" They should know better, right?
One big pet peeve in nursing is hearing or reading "nare" as the singular of "nares." This one is perpetuated by nursing instructors across the country. Naris is the singular of nares, and nares rhymes with fairies, not with hairs. It's similar to words like diagnosis/diagnoses, prognosis/prognoses, crisis/crises.
When I first came to this site, I was flamed by a poster and sanctioned by a moderator because I said that "nare" was not a word as used in the post. Of course someone immediately sent a link to show that "nare" is a word, and it means "naris" which means "nostril." This was in Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary. Without Google it would have been nearly impossible to find. To find "naris," just go to your bookshelf and look it up in Taber's or any other medical dictionary you have.
The point of this is that dictionaries reflect usage. If enough people use a word incorrectly or pronounce it incorrectly long enough, that usage/pronunciation will eventually be added to the dictionary and may actually be listed as the preferred use or pronunciation. (lingerie and short lived are examples of this)
One says, "An RN" because audibly the sound is 'aur' when pronouncing RN. On the other hand, when saying, "I am a registered nurse" one says 'a' instead of 'an' because of the audible consonant beginning.
Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.
An a/an use that grates on my nerves is "an historical moment" I don't know anyone who actually says the word historyu without the sound of the h. An hour, an honor, but a historical romance.
How about the wrong usage of its and it's? And try convincing people that there is no such word as its.'
Here's one of my "nails on a chalkboard" peeves. "Would have went." Arrgghhh. I can't help it. The audible reaction is involuntary.
Less vs. fewer.
Unauthorized use of apostrohpes. Welcome to the Smith's. The Smith's what?
If enough people use a word incorrectly or pronounce it incorrectly long enough, that usage/pronunciation will eventually be added to the dictionary and may actually be listed as the preferred use or pronunciation. (lingerie and short lived are examples of this)
Sad, but true. When someone pronounces short lived (long I sound) correctly, my husband knows to brace himself for a hurrah. Again, an involuntary reaction.
As for this principle applied to the written word, look at chaise longue, which has been thoroughly corrupted into chaise lounge. I can't bring myself to use the former (how sad when the correct spelling seems an affectation), but I refuse to use the latter.
I can let most things go except when people use the term orientate rather than oriented. Drives me nutso!!!! hehehe
"Orientated" drives me nuts too. However, as a previous poster said, orientated is actually a word. According to the research I've done, it is used in Canada and Europe most often, but here in the US, we don't see a need to put in exta letters, so we use "orient". Some people in the US have never been taught to use "orient", so they end up saying it like the Canadians and European do. Still, I can't stand it.
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