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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Usage
"a" or "an" before "h--"
I normally say "an herb" or "an honor", where the is commonly dropped. Before most words i would use "a" pronounced as the in "fun". I would not say "an husband" or "an house", a form of dropping i associate with some British speakers.
But while i will say "a history book", i would not naturally say "a historical event". I would not say "an history lesson" but i say "an historical account" or "an historian". If i ever did use "a" before "historian", etc., it would more likely be pronounced as in "day". I would also say "he gave me an hello" or "it was an horrific act". There may be others, but these are the few i think of off hand.
It isn't that the the is completely silent, although it may not be quite as pronounced. The common factor is that all the words i precede with "an" are accented on the second syllable. There's something about the flow of syllables that makes "an" feel natural. Also, i tend to write "an" if i would speak it.
This may not be consistent with other people's speech, i don't know. Does anyone else find this sort of variation in their own or others' speech ? Is there anything in your grammar books about this ? (I haven't much looked at grammar since about 9th grade. Warner is what we used.)
ER Lyon
But while i will say "a history book", i would not naturally say "a historical event". I would not say "an history lesson" but i say "an historical account" or "an historian". If i ever did use "a" before "historian", etc., it would more likely be pronounced as in "day". I would also say "he gave me an hello" or "it was an horrific act". There may be others, but these are the few i think of off hand.
It isn't that the the is completely silent, although it may not be quite as pronounced. The common factor is that all the words i precede with "an" are accented on the second syllable. There's something about the flow of syllables that makes "an" feel natural. Also, i tend to write "an" if i would speak it.
This may not be consistent with other people's speech, i don't know. Does anyone else find this sort of variation in their own or others' speech ? Is there anything in your grammar books about this ? (I haven't much looked at grammar since about 9th grade. Warner is what we used.)
ER Lyon
Top answer
[nq:1]I normally say "an herb" or "an honor", where the is commonly dropped. Before most words i would ... or "it was an horrific act".
- [nq:1]I normally say "an herb" or "an honor", where the is commonly dropped.
- Before most words i would ...
- or "it was an horrific act".
- [/nq] , first paragraph.
- Bob Lieblich The FAQ is your friend
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101 Answers
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[nq:1]I normally say "an herb" or "an honor", where the is commonly dropped. Before most words i would ... or "it was an horrific act". There may be others, but these are the few i think of off hand.[/nq]
, first paragraph.
Bob Lieblich
The FAQ is your friend
, first paragraph.
Bob Lieblich
The FAQ is your friend
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[nq:2]I normally say "an herb" or "an honor", where the ... but these are the few i think of off hand.[/nq]
[nq:1]>, first paragraph.[/nq]
Thanks. I've copied the applicable section below:
[nq:1]Formerly, "an" was usual before unaccented syllables beginning with "h" ("an historian", "an hotel"); these are "now obsolescent" in British English (Collins English Dictionary), although "a
[nq:1]>, first paragraph.[/nq]
Thanks. I've copied the applicable section below:
[nq:1]Formerly, "an" was usual before unaccented syllables beginning with "h" ("an historian", "an hotel"); these are "now obsolescent" in British English (Collins English Dictionary), although "a
00
Using an obsolescent usage doesn't make you yourself obsolescent. It makes you eccentric.
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com
00
[nq:2]I normally say "an herb" or "an honor", where the ... but these are the few i think of off hand.[/nq]
[nq:1], first paragraph.[/nq]
Does it mean that one can choose a/an depending on /their/ pronunciation of a word that admits two? I would never write/say "an herb" (the orrors!), but it should be OK for somebody that pronounces it "urb"?
[nq:1], first paragraph.[/nq]
Does it mean that one can choose a/an depending on /their/ pronunciation of a word that admits two? I would never write/say "an herb" (the orrors!), but it should be OK for somebody that pronounces it "urb"?
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[nq:2], first paragraph.[/nq]
[nq:1]Does it mean that one can choose a/an depending on /their/ pronunciation of a word that admits two? I would never write/say "an herb" (the orrors!), but it should be OK for somebody that pronounces it "urb"?[/nq]
That's exactly what it means, yes.
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com
[nq:1]Does it mean that one can choose a/an depending on /their/ pronunciation of a word that admits two? I would never write/say "an herb" (the orrors!), but it should be OK for somebody that pronounces it "urb"?[/nq]
That's exactly what it means, yes.
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com
00
[nq:2], first paragraph.[/nq]
[nq:1]Does it mean that one can choose a/an depending on /their/ pronunciation of a word that admits two? I would never write/say "an herb" (the orrors!), but it should be OK for somebody that pronounces it "urb"?[/nq]
Yes.
Stephen
Lennox Head, Australia
[nq:1]Does it mean that one can choose a/an depending on /their/ pronunciation of a word that admits two? I would never write/say "an herb" (the orrors!), but it should be OK for somebody that pronounces it "urb"?[/nq]
Yes.
Stephen
Lennox Head, Australia
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[nq:2]I'm American. Am i obsolescent here too ? Are there any other obsolescents out there ? ER Lyon[/nq]
[nq:1]Using an obsolescent usage doesn't make you yourself obsolescent. It makes you eccentric.[/nq]
A little harsh! To qualify as eccentric, I'd say he'd have to use obsolete usages. Note that a few educated speakers still don't sound the "h" in "hotel": I try the "h" every now and th
[nq:1]Using an obsolescent usage doesn't make you yourself obsolescent. It makes you eccentric.[/nq]
A little harsh! To qualify as eccentric, I'd say he'd have to use obsolete usages. Note that a few educated speakers still don't sound the "h" in "hotel": I try the "h" every now and th
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[nq:1]others. COD9, 1995, has the **aspirated** form as an alternative,but Penguin 1969 and Collins 2000 don't.[/nq]
***Sorry! I meant "unaspirated".
Mike.
***Sorry! I meant "unaspirated".
Mike.
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[nq:1]I normally say "an herb" or "an honor", where the is commonly dropped. Before most words i would ... or "it was an horrific act". There may be others, but these are the few i think of off hand.[/nq]
I speak (and therefore write) this way myself. In cases of the aspired H, I use "a" if the accent in the next word is on the first syllable, or if the word is emphasized, or is derived from
I speak (and therefore write) this way myself. In cases of the aspired H, I use "a" if the accent in the next word is on the first syllable, or if the word is emphasized, or is derived from
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[nq:2]Using an obsolescent usage doesn't make you yourself obsolescent. It makes you eccentric.[/nq]
[nq:1]A little harsh! To qualify as eccentric, I'd say he'd have to use obsolete usages. Note that a ... for "historical", I seem to be at an inconsistent transitional stage. I feel sure I don't use it in writing.[/nq]
It's still in much more widespread use in the US than in Britain or Aust
[nq:1]A little harsh! To qualify as eccentric, I'd say he'd have to use obsolete usages. Note that a ... for "historical", I seem to be at an inconsistent transitional stage. I feel sure I don't use it in writing.[/nq]
It's still in much more widespread use in the US than in Britain or Aust
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