I'd like to ask a technology-based linguistics question, but I don't know where to ask it.
Which is grammatically correct? 'a .exe file' or 'an .exe file'?
Would this fall under English Language Learners, Linguistics, Super User, or somewhere else?
-
1Just FYI, this general question has been already answered on ELU and ELL.– CatijaCommented Mar 9, 2017 at 18:33
-
@Catija I'm not asking due to the pronunciation of "exe". I'm asking because I'm not sure if you read the phrase as "an e-x-e" or "a (dot) e-x-e"– StevoisiakCommented Mar 9, 2017 at 18:52
-
1That's not clear from your example as the only difference is a vs an. Most people I know don't pronounce the dot but there's no one answer to that... you pick a or an based on your choice of pronunciation in that case.– CatijaCommented Mar 9, 2017 at 19:00
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
It's a question about grammar. It doesn't matter if it mentions executable files, rockets, pets, or marshmallows.
So it's either English Language Learners or English Language & Usage, depending on the level.
It would be off-topic on Super User, since it's not related to a software/hardware issue.
Linguistics is more about language theory in general, not about specific English grammar questions.
-
To be a bit of a nitpick, it's not that much about grammar, but pronunciation. If I'm not mistaken, that is.– M.A.R.Commented Mar 9, 2017 at 17:58
-
1@M.A.R. it's about choosing between "a" and "an" - it's a grammatical rule that depends on the end pronunciation of the word rather than on whether it starts with a consonant or a vowel. It's only a pronunciation question because the written grammar depends on pronunciation.– CatijaCommented Mar 9, 2017 at 18:34
-
I can decide whether you meant that this is about syntax, or that it is about morphology. Whichever of the two you meant, I'm having trouble seeing it.– tchristCommented Mar 17, 2017 at 0:21
Turns out that my specific question has already been answered on English Language & Usage.
answered Mar 10, 2017 at 15:44
