I asked a RQ, but it was misunderstood. I thought I would post a (lengthier) version of the RQ here. There was confusion about what the heck I was asking about, so I’ll try to be more clear.

A mid-sentence parenthetical comment is supplemental text that does not need to be read as part of the sentence, but the writer wants to include nonetheless. For example, you do not need to read the word “lengthier” in my second sentence of this post — it is in parentheses because it is minor compared to main point of the sentence.

“I thought I would post a (lengthier) version of the RQ here.”
“I thought I would post a version of the RQ here.”

Some argue that such parenthetical comments are used when the writer is too lazy or inexperienced to formulate a (better) sentence without them. Well, perhaps … but I like using them. And I’m not the only only one; they’re widely used. As such, it would be nice to know how to use them.

Anyhow, here is my question: since the overall sentence is supposed to be able to stand on its own without the parenthetical comment, does the choice of “a” versus “an” depend on the next word (regardless of parentheses), or should one use the next non-parenthetical word encountered?

Example: Suppose instead of “lengthier”, I wanted my parenthetical comment to be “overly long”. Do I use “a” or “an”, knowing that the sentence should be readable without the extra comment?

“I thought I would post a/an (overly long) version of the RQ here.”
“I thought I would post a version of the RQ here.”

I’ve asked grammar pedants and searched for answers on the web to no avail. Whaddya think?