On Thu, Dec 9, 2021 at 11:25 AM David G. Johnston <david.g.johnston@gmail.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.