"an usurper" or "a usurper"

Question

Google searches have shown both to be acceptable, but I'd like to receive an answer from a more credible source (like here).

Example sentence:
(Dialogue)
"You could never be forced to live in fear of a Usurper attack."

Is this an exception due to the pronunciation of the word?
_______________________________________

I'd also like to receive some input on the following sentence. I'm told it suffers from 'dangling modifiers'. I've researched dangling modifiers and I'm still hazy on what aspects of this sentence are in need of correction.

"Sinking into the vinyl cushion, Hal observed the driver shouting obscenities, flailing and stewing in rapidly deteriorating temperament as he wrestled through traffic at an agonizing crawl."

What part of this sentence is a run-on? I've been told it suffers from that as well.

Any advice is most welcome.

Rafaelinrio · Accepted Answer

Example sentence:
(Dialogue)
"You could never be forced to live in fear of a Usurper attack."

Is this an exception due to the pronunciation of the word?

The correct form is A USURPER, because of the pronunciation of the letter U, like these examples:

A university
A uniform
A universe

Pter · Answer

It's the initial sound, not the first letter, that determines the choice of a or an. This is mentioned in any reputable usage guide of English. For example, a European country, a one-year term, a Ouiya board, a uniform, an FBI agent, an MBA degree, an SEC filing.
We have to be careful when interpreting the number of Google hits. I also regularly use Google for researching language use. You can find something in Google doesn't mean it is correct or "acceptable", especially if most of the entries you found are by non-native speakers.
Regarding the last sentence you quoted, I don't believe any part of it is a run-on although the last part after the second comma appears so at first sight. But as I am not a native speaker, I believe someone may give you a better answer on that.

Anonymous · Answer

As far as your last sentence goes - ever heard the phrase less is more? Also, it makes his driver sound neurotic if he's doing all three at once. I wouldn't be picky about any dangling modifiers, but it definitely runs on a bit, and the subject of the sentence changes from Hal to the driver. That's always confusing to readers. And the driver is doing four things; shouting, flailing, stewing, and getting in a worse mood. It's the 'rapidly deteriorating temperment' that really throws the sentence. Nicely writter, but confusion. Here's a way it could be more clear - of course, I know nothing about your story, so it obviously wouldn't fit, but I'm trying to give you an idea.

"Hal sank into the vinyl cushion and looked again at the driver. The red faced man was quickly losing his temper and was unable to keep still as rolled down the window and shouted obscenities at the crawling traffic."

Still gets the point across and uses a lot of your original prose, but is more clear.

And also, unless it's a fantasy book and usurper is its own breed, I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be capitalized.

"an usurper" or "a usurper"

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions