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Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think?

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Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ?

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ThomasD
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Joined: 15 Dec 2009
Posts: 277
Schools:Duke
Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 09:58
So, I am just wondering, a google search seems to suggest an MBA, based on the fact that when the letter M is pronounced, it sounds like "em" so since it begins with a vowel sound and we are saying the letters one by one "an" MBA.

What do the Clubbers think ?
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mba20thirteen
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Schools:Simon Graduate School of Business '13
Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 09:58
It's a MBA.
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jordanhendrix
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 10:00
this is like a GMAT SC question! if your speaking go with AN MBA if writing its A MBA.
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bakfed
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 10:13
I thought it's always "an MBA" because the letter "M" starts with a vowel sound.
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perseverance
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 10:21
jordanhendrix wrote:
this is like a GMAT SC question! if your speaking go with AN MBA if writing its A MBA.


Agree with this. Saying 'a mba' just sounds strange.
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PadawanOfTheGMAT
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 10:42
It should be "an MBA" as the sound of the first letter of MBA is like that of a vowel.
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runnergirl
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 11:32
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Whichever way the b-school app has it in their written materials :)
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ThomasD
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 11:57
runnergirl683 wrote:
Whichever way the b-school app has it in their written materials :)
Good point!
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Michmax3
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 15:35
I think it's an MBA but I just realized in the one essay I've written so far I actually was able to avoid this by making it more specific and saying A school name here MBA...

But I agree, look at the school's website and see how they use it in their text
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gurpreetsingh
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 15:58
When the letter M is pronounced, it sounds like "em" . Since it begins with a vowel sound and we are saying the letters one by one, 'an' MBA is appropriate.

eg ' He is an MBBS doctor, but married to an MBA graduate'
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lawgonebusiness
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 16:04
it's THE MBA, really, or a [school name] MBA.
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oldguru82
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 16:44
I will go with "AN MBA" ;). Check this:
WHARTON: https://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mbaexecuti ... an-mba.cfm
STANFORD: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/jacksonlibr ... effer.html
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staind
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 18:47
The application of "a" or "an" depends on the vowel sound and not on the presence of an actual vowel. So it should definitely be "an" mba.
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krussell
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 19:29
However, it's A master of business administration...
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UPGRAYEDD
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 21:13
krussell wrote:
However, it's A master of business administration...



Doesn't matter.

Written and spoken you still use 'an'. The sound is what matters most.

It gets really confusing when you start using H words. A history book. An historical event. A Hypothetical question. An hyopthesis.
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krussell
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 21:30
UPGRAYEDD wrote:
krussell wrote:
However, it's A master of business administration...



Doesn't matter.

Written and spoken you still use 'an'. The sound is what matters most.

It gets really confusing when you start using H words. A history book. An historical event. A Hypothetical question. An hyopthesis.


A historical event and a hypothesis are the grammatically correct answers.
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UPGRAYEDD
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  09 Sep 2010, 21:39
UPGRAYEDD wrote:
krussell wrote:
However, it's A master of business administration...



Doesn't matter.

Written and spoken you still use 'an'. The sound is what matters most.

It gets really confusing when you start using H words. A history book. An historical event. A Hypothetical question. An hyopthesis.


Depends on where you are from I guess.
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saxenashobhit
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  12 Sep 2010, 13:06
An MBA....
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iplayrugby
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  12 Sep 2010, 13:50
You guys have way too much time.

"An MBA" is correct.

"A MBA" is wrong.

End of discussion. Its basic English grammar. There is no need for polling on this. One is correct and the other is wrong. Its not a matter of opinion.
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gurpreetsingh
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Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink] New post  12 Sep 2010, 14:21
iplayrugby wrote:
You guys have way too much time.

"An MBA" is correct.

"A MBA" is wrong.

End of discussion. Its basic English grammar. There is no need for polling on this. One is correct and the other is wrong. Its not a matter of opinion.


Chill !!

This is an off topic discussion.
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: Is it "A MBA" or "AN MBA" ? What does the Gmatclub think? [#permalink]
12 Sep 2010, 14:21
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