Outputting proper grammar . . .

[timmygrover]

So I'm using a nested IIF statement to get a/an from a query.



Paragraph2: IIF([Paragraph3] LIKE "A*", "an ", IIF([Paragraph3] LIKE "E*", "an ", IIF([Paragraph3] LIKE "I*", "an ", IIF([Paragraph3] LIKE "O*", "an ",
IIF([Paragraph3] LIKE "U* ", "an ", IIF([Paragraph3] LIKE "Y*", "an ", "a "))))))

The thing is, that it's working ALMOST all the time, if Paragraph 3 begins with a vowel, it always outputs "an " but if it begins with a consonant it returns "a " about 80% of the time. Why in the world would it ALMOST always work?

Note: [Paragraph3] has it's own IIF statement based on a RND() integeger (if RND()=X, return Sentence1, if RND()=Y, return Sentence2

I don't know if that has anything to do with it
Thanks!

[June7]

RND is a randomize function. You want random values? Are X and Y representing field names?

Can shorten the expression.
Paragraph2: IIF([Paragraph3] LIKE "[A,E,I,O,U,Y]*", "an ", "a ")

Isn't Y only sometimes a vowel and when would it go with 'an' - "tie a yellow ribbon" ?

Is it always the same consonents that return with 'an'?

[timmygrover]

I used the shortened expression and the problem fixed itself! Thanks for the tip! As far as RND(), I've been using it to populate a field with a random integer between a given range, (i.e. randomly select a number between 1-10) and then I have another field with an IIF statement which outputs a few select variables based on the random output of the other column. It seems to be working fine, I just didn't know if they way I'd gone about it was factoring into my other issue.

Thanks for your help! Not only did you solve my problem, you've armed me with knowledge and made me a better access-y dude!