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Question on style; I can't find it in the AP Sports Guide

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by MilanWall, Apr 17, 2007.

  1. MilanWall

    MilanWall Member

    Is it an RBI single, or a RBI single? Or does it even matter?
     
  2. micropolitan guy

    micropolitan guy Well-Known Member

    I would say an RBI single because that's conversational English. It rolls off the tongue much easier than a RBI single.

    I know that since RBI means run(s) batted in you wouldn't say "an runs batted in single" but someimes (I think) you have to say WTF to the rules of grammer and just write what sounds right and what is generally accepted as being the correct style.
     
  3. MilanWall

    MilanWall Member

    That's what I always thought, too. Since RBI is pronounced "ahr bee eye" and starts with a vowel sound, then it should have "an" before it.
     
  4. chazp

    chazp Active Member

    There's also a black sports style book, forgot what it is called, it may be in there. I have seen it as both "a RBI single," and "an RBI single." I've also seen it, "a RBI-single," and "an RBI-single."
     
  5. an Eh Neh Fell player...A Double-you En Be Ay player...an Ahr Be Eye...

    AN AN AN AN AN
     
  6. Mighty_Wingman

    Mighty_Wingman Active Member

    No doubt.

    This same topic came up on the writer's workshop, where I posed this question:

    "An 0-for-12 slump?"
     
  7. SF_Express

    SF_Express Active Member

  8. Chi City 81

    Chi City 81 Guest

  9. fishwrapper

    fishwrapper Active Member

    So, it is:
    "an round tripper?" ;)
     
  10. LazyReporter

    LazyReporter Member

    Eliminate the problem altogether and use "A run-scoring single."
     
  11. Mighty_Wingman

    Mighty_Wingman Active Member

    It's a real pleasure to see such unanimity on SportsJournalists.com.
     
  12. But isn't that because you're reading 0 as "oh," when in actuality it's "zero." In that case, it's clearly, "a (zero)-for-12 slump."
     
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