0
Usenet Posted 18 years ago
English in UK
"an eulogy" or "a eulogy"?
As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite article "a" before words beginning with a consonant and "an" before words beginning with a vowel or a diphthong. And the sound "y" ( or / j / in phonetic script) as in "eulogy", "university", "European" etc. is to be treated as a consonant (though in certain contexts one would also call it a "semi-vowel").
Why is it that I still find "an" preceeding this sound in certain write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy", and "an university" ? Are these instances of incorrect usage?
Paul.
Why is it that I still find "an" preceeding this sound in certain write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy", and "an university" ? Are these instances of incorrect usage?
Paul.
Top answer
[nq:1]As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite article "a" before words beginning with a consonant ... sound in certain write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy", and "an university" ? [/nq] Yes - the choice of "a" or "an" is a question of pronunciation, not of spelling.
- [nq:1]As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite article "a" before words beginning with a consonant ...
- sound in certain write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy", and "an university" ?
- [/nq] Yes - the choice of "a" or "an" is a question of pronunciation, not of spelling.
- Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
[nq:1]As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite article "a" before words beginning with a consonant ... sound in certain write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy", and "an university" ? Are these instances of incorrect usage?[/nq]
Yes - the choice of "a" or "an" is a question of pronunciation, not of spelling.
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
Yes - the choice of "a" or "an" is a question of pronunciation, not of spelling.
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
00
(Email Removed), Paul (Email Removed) writes
[nq:1]As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite article "a" before words beginning with a consonant ... in certain write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy", and "an university" ? Are these instances of incorrect usage? Paul.[/nq]
A lot of people write 'an hotel', which always surprises me. Do they say it
[nq:1]As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite article "a" before words beginning with a consonant ... in certain write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy", and "an university" ? Are these instances of incorrect usage? Paul.[/nq]
A lot of people write 'an hotel', which always surprises me. Do they say it
00
[nq:2]As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use ... "an university" ? Are these instances of incorrect usage? Paul.[/nq]
[nq:1]A lot of people write 'an hotel', which always surprises me. Do they say it without the 'h'? I think 'a eulogy' and 'a university' are preferable.[/nq]
The pronunciation of the "h" in words like "hotel" and "history" is quite recent. These words are of
[nq:1]A lot of people write 'an hotel', which always surprises me. Do they say it without the 'h'? I think 'a eulogy' and 'a university' are preferable.[/nq]
The pronunciation of the "h" in words like "hotel" and "history" is quite recent. These words are of
00
[nq:1]The pronunciation of the "h" in words like "hotel" and "history" is quite recent. These words are of French origin ... in "herb" the "h" is pronounced in Britain but I understand that it isn't in many parts of the US.[/nq]
Many English people use 'an' before some words beginning with 'h', but my experience is that this only occurs (apart from the cases where the 'h' is mute anyway) when
Many English people use 'an' before some words beginning with 'h', but my experience is that this only occurs (apart from the cases where the 'h' is mute anyway) when
0
Related Questions