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Guest Posted 23 years ago
Grammar

A or An Historian? Pronouncing A / H

In the word historian is it pronounced historian or istorian.

Would you use a or an?

  

Top answer

Just like the word " herb ". In American English it is pronounced " erb ", so you say " an herb ". In British English it is pronounced " herb ", so you say " a herb ".

— Raul

  • Just like the word " herb ".
  • In American English it is pronounced " erb ", so you say " an herb ".
  • In British English it is pronounced " herb ", so you say " a herb ".
  • So the a/an choice will depend on the dialect variant.
  • In some parts of England you can hear " and " meaning " hand ".
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4 Answers
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Just like the word "herb".

In American English it is pronounced "erb", so you say "an herb". 
In British English it is pronounced "herb", so you say "a herb".

So the a/an choice will depend on the dialect variant. In some parts of England you can hear "and" meaning "hand". The h-sound is dropped.

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"A historian" is correct.

"An historian" sounds clunky as the h is pronounced.

Do people really say "an istorian"? I've never heard it pronounced that way, not to mention "istory".

Come forward! those who say, "an istory of modern economics".

Pronouncing herb as erb"? If you're learning English and the init

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Americans do say "erb" instead of "herb". This is their dialect variant. Of course, those who are influenced by British English would consider it funny - and I am referring to learners as a second or foreign language.

Likewise, if I hear a native speaker uttering "and" instead of "hand", I would smile and think the person is fairly uneducated. However, I do understand that standariza
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Gotcha. I've heard "herb" as "erb". I don't like it, but what can I do?

Pronunciation...

"Oi! And me me at."

"Come again?"

"Me at! Me ****** at! And it to me."

"Uh, sorry, I gotta go."

Please don't take offence anyone, I'm just trying to imagine what an English student would make of the above dialog.

Pronunciation is an interes
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