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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Grammar

In Australian English, which term is correct

I went to a hospital
I went to an hospital
  

Top answer

"I went to a hospital", is correct because "hospital" begins with a consonant. I would guess that around 5% percent of Australians (those of lesser education) would say; "an ospital", as would a similar percentage of British people. Note that if there is such a thing as Australian English it is identical (grammatically) to British English, as are New Zealand English and South African English.

— Mike in Japan

  • "I went to a hospital", is correct because "hospital" begins with a consonant.
  • I would guess that around 5% percent of Australians (those of lesser education) would say; "an ospital", as would a similar percentage of British people.
  • Note that if there is such a thing as Australian English it is identical (grammatically) to British English, as are New Zealand English and South African English.
  • Other opinions?
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16 Answers
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"I went to a hospital",
is correct because "hospital" begins with a consonant.
I would guess that around 5% percent of Australians (those of lesser education) would say;
"an ospital", as would a similar percentage of British people.
Note that if there is such a thing as Australian English it is identical (grammatically) to British English, as are New Zealand English and Sout
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I never came across ' an hospital ' before. ' A hospital ' goes well with English from any countries I guess.
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There are plenty of examples of the silent-h phenomenon. I have certainly seen written down "an hotel", "an historic occasion", and so on. (Pronounced "an otel", "an istoric occasion", etc.).

But I think the spelling is supposed to be based on the accepted pronunciation, not on regional dialect, which is why it gets confusing. Cockney Londoners would certainly say things l
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PS. I take issue with Mike in Japan. I don't accept the assertion:
(those of lesser education)

A dropped aitch is a regional variation - an accent, no more. I know many highly educated Londoners who don't pronounce, 'h' because that's how they grew up saying it. I imagine the same to be true for Australians also.

Rommie
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interestingly , i am here because i doubted my knowledge of 'a' and 'an' usage from university, people (even lecturers) there get this wrong time and time again.
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Yep. Many people of many persuasions get many things wrong everyday.
I am no exception.
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I appreciate the discussion. In the US, the correct usage would be determined by the consonant at the beginning of the word. Except for "historic" which would be preceded by "an." In this situation, I've been told, the determination is by the more appropriate sounding method - "an historic building" sounds better when spoken than "a historic building."

On the question of hospital, whe
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In UK English I know that an hospital and an hotel are 100% correct grammer, although is is very formal, it's always used in the news. Infact I swear I have heard in the news "an 'ospital" which you would think sounds common but apparently not! I think is used to be silent H even in english.

But in speach or informal writing, I'm sure a hospital is correct too.

We are told that
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I think an hospital is incorrect.

You could say to a hospital or to hospital. Either one would work.
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I went to a hospital
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