'a' or is it 'an'?

[Beorn]

I was taught that it was 'a' before consonants and 'an' before vowels, but yet I have seen 'an' being used regardless or not at all.

Example:




New peanut 'could free millions from the fear of a allergic reaction' (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7808724/New-peanut-could-free-millions-from-the-fear-of-a-allergic-reaction.html)



Surely it is 'an'?

Which is it?

[Imperivm]

an I think

[The Ripper]

It depends on the vowel. For example, you don't say "an European" but "a European". Of course, phonetically, the "eu" sound is not a vowel but a consonant, sort of like the letter "y".

"Is that A yes or no?"

[Nodens]

In the listed case it should be 'an'. The confusion cones form the tendency of certain English dialects to render some consonants silent.

Correctly written: "A historical event."
Correctly pronounced: "A historical event."
Also correctly (colloquially) pronounced: "An -istorical event."

[Beorn]

Correctly written: "A historical event."

I actually thought to correct you then. :D


Also correctly (colloquially) pronounced: "An -istorical event."

I hadn't figured for pronunciation. As I was saying to Riippumatto, it is a nightmare teaching my daughter the difference between her accent and the correct written form of words. I guess this is just another.

[Nodens]

I actually thought to correct you then. :D

Heh, it's possible your correction would be accurate in the UK, as I'm relying on my General American English.

Not sure how to find an 'official' answer (assuming one exists).

[Svanhild]

IFor example, you don't say "an European" but "a European".
Aww! I never care. If there's an "a, e, i, o, u" the first letter of the next word I always use an. :wink

[Ulf]

http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/a-anlessn.html

WHEN TO USE -A- Use a if the next word begins with a consonant (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:VocabOpen%28%29) SOUND. This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.
a box
a cat
a university (university begins with a consonant sound)
a unicorn (unicorn begins with a consonant sound)
a European trip (European begins with a consonant sound)
a hotel (hotel begins with a consonant sound)


WHEN TO USE -AN- Use AN if the next word begins with a vowel (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:VocabOpen%28%29) SOUND. This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.
an atom
an entrance
an ice cream cone
an uncle (uncle begins with a vowel sound)
an hour (the h is silent, thus a vowel sound)

[Osweo]

Especially in older texts, you will find 'an' before 'historic'. I don't like this, and so I don't do it. :D As in many things in life, you can get away with a lot if you're consistent! ;)

[Aemma]

In the listed case it should be 'an'. The confusion cones form the tendency of certain English dialects to render some consonants silent.

Correctly written: "A historical event."
Correctly pronounced: "A historical event."
Also correctly (colloquially) pronounced: "An -istorical event."

Sorry Nodens but not quite: it IS proper to have the "an" before the "h" hence it's pronunciation which thus does NOT render it colloquially pronounced but correctly so.

Otherwise, "an" before a vowel or *an* "h"! :)

[Aemma]

Especially in older texts, you will find 'an' before 'historic'. I don't like this, and so I don't do it. :D As in many things in life, you can get away with a lot if you're consistent! ;)

But you bugger! You're English and you therefore *must* maintain the Queen's English!!! :D Now stop it this instant, you bastardiser of the English language!! :p :D

And it is too an "an" before "historical" just as "presently" does NOT mean "at the present time"! It indicates the future and always has in the Queen's English!! And just as the word "scone" does NOT rhyme with the word "cone"!! Gah!!! :mad:

Now fetch me a cuppa, my good man! :D

[Beorn]

You Canadians should stop looking at our language.

We'll send round an Angel to communicate to you what we say so as not to hurt thine eyes or ears. :D

[Nodens]

Sorry Nodens but not quite: it IS proper to have the "an" before the "h" hence it's pronunciation which thus does NOT render it colloquially pronounced but correctly so.

Otherwise, "an" before a vowel or *an* "h"! :)

Canadians believing their standards to be relevant.. :p

Edit: And French Canadians at that!

[Aemma]

You Canadians should stop looking at our language.

We'll send round an Angel to communicate to you what we say so as not to hurt thine eyes or ears. :D

Tut tut, my good man. It is as much *my* language as it is yours, mine own people having been subjects of your good country for such a long long time. Under such, uhmm, oppression, I wouldn't dare claim any other language to be mine own other than that of my own forefathers', French. But make no mistake: the Queen's English *is* and always will be what we speak here in Canada. Think of it as a gift you bestowed upon us, dear Sir. :D

As for you dear Nodens, I wager to know more about the English language than you, dear sir: I have about, oh let's say, more than a quarter century of practice more than you have had in speaking this tongue. :D

[Nodens]

As for you dear Nodens, I wager to know more about the English language than you, dear sir: I have about, oh let's say, more than a quarter century of practice more than you have had in speaking this tongue. :D

I refer you back to


http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/a-anlessn.html

WHEN TO USE -A- Use a if the next word begins with a consonant (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:VocabOpen%28%29) SOUND. This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.
a box
a cat
a university (university begins with a consonant sound)
a unicorn (unicorn begins with a consonant sound)
a European trip (European begins with a consonant sound)
a hotel (hotel begins with a consonant sound)


WHEN TO USE -AN- Use AN if the next word begins with a vowel (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:VocabOpen%28%29) SOUND. This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.
an atom
an entrance
an ice cream cone
an uncle (uncle begins with a vowel sound)
an hour (the h is silent, thus a vowel sound)

One question: Silent 'h'?

[Aemma]

I refer you back to



One question: Silent -h-?

Well, Aemma doesn't start with an "h", therefore she is NEVER silent! :D

[Aemma]

I refer you back to



One question: Silent 'h'?

But seriously, I would venture that it depends as to whether or not the vowel that follows the "h" is a long or short sounding one. For instance, the word "hotel" has an "o" which is sounded short, "o" (like "Oh no!"), whereas the word "historical" has an "i" which is sounded long ie., it makes the "eee" sound as opposed to the "eye" sound (which is the short sound).

That's my answer and I'm sticking to it! :thumbs up

[Nodens]

\ˈhis-t(ə-)rē\ (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/history)

his·to·ry (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/history)

his·tor·i·cal (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/historical)

[Aemma]

\ˈhis-t(ə-)rē\ (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/history)

his·to·ry (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/history)

his·tor·i·cal (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/historical)

For the love of Mike, Nodens, I know full well how to pronounce the word "history". You get my drift I suspect with what I said above.

Now fetch me a cuppa, sugar and milk....and biscuits!!

[Nodens]

Begins with a pronounced consonant. Subsequent vowel sounds are thus irrelevant. The frequent employment of 'an historical' predates the standardization of the language, when either -a- or -an- was correct, as many regional dialects do not pronounce the -h-.

Edit: Again, at least in General American English.

[Aemma]

Begins with a pronounced consonant. Subsequent vowel sounds are thus irrelevant. The frequent employment of 'an historical' predates the standardization of the language, when either -a- or -an- was correct, as many regional dialects do not pronounce the -h-.

Edit: Again, at least in General American English.

Got a linkie?

[Nodens]

Not finding anything on the history, but on topic:


“A Historic” versus “An Historic” (http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/historic-versus-historical.aspx)

Throughout this podcast so far, I’ve said “a historic” and “a historical.” There are conflicting theories on whether to use “an” or “a” before these words. It’s all a matter of whether you pronounce the “h” sound. One authority, Bill Walsh, feels that Americans incorrectly use “an.” He acknowledges that “some British people pronounce ‘historic’ as ‘istoric,’ and that has led many Americans to believe ‘an historic’ is correct. It is not.” He points out that if you said the words “historic” and “historical” alone, you would hear an “h” sound, so you should say, “a historic” and “a historical” (4). Further, nobody would ever say a song was “an hit.” You'd say the song was “a hit,” and the “hi” sound at the beginning of “hit” is exactly the same as the sound at the beginning of “historic” and “historical.”

On the other hand, The New Fowler's Modern English Usage, a traditionally British-leaning style guide, holds an opposing view (3). It recommends that you say, “an historic” and “an historical,” but “a history.” I personally prefer “a historic” and “a historical,” but no matter which way you choose to say these words, you’re going to offend someone.

So, to sum up, something historic is important, something historical is all in the past, and in my opinion it's better to say “a historic” instead of “an historic.”


. . . When the aitch (h) is silent, as in honor and hour, use the article an. When the aitch is pronounced, as in house, hamburger, history, and historical, use the article a. (http://grammartips.homestead.com/historical.html)


. . . an was formerly used before an unaccented syllable beginning with
h and is still often seen and heard (an historian, an hotel, an hysterical scene, an hereditary title, an habitual offender). But now that the h in such words is pronounced, the distinction has become anomalous and will no doubt disappear in time. Meantime, speakers who like to say an should not try to have it both ways by aspirating the h. (http://grammartips.homestead.com/historical.html)

Edit: And it does seem to be an American vs. Others phenomenon.

[Aemma]

Not finding anything on the history, but on topic:

Edit: And it does seem to be an American vs. Others phenomenon.

Well done and thank you, Nodens! :thumbs up

Well being the extremely stubborn French Canadian woman that I am, I'm afraid I'll be sticking to my very Canadian ways and saying "an historical...." :p C'est un fait accompli. :D

[Nodens]

One more justification for my future political party's 'Annex Canada' platform. :evil

[Aemma]

One more justification for my future political party's 'Annex Canada' platform. :evil

Perhaps you would like to rethink that whole annexing idea, Nodens. You'd have old stubborn French Canadian women like me trying to run interference and having a grand old time doing it too! :P :D

Je meurs une canadienne avant tout!! :D

[Nodens]

Perhaps you would like to rethink that whole annexing idea, Nodens. You'd have old stubborn French Canadian women like me trying to run interference and having a grand old time doing it too! :P :D

Je meurs une canadienne avant tout!! :D

Sounds like a challenge.

[Murphy]

I don't understand the mechanisms of the English language. It simply comes natural to me, instinctively I know when to use my 'a' and my 'an'.

[Fortis in Arduis]

It should be 'a historical'.

Allowing the emphasis to fall on the 'stor' would be sloppy, even if the 'h' were expressed, and that would be the only partially acceptable reason for pronouncing it as 'an historical'.

You would not pronounce 'an history', would you, unless you dropped the 'aitch'.

Emphasis on the first syllable is generally better.

Example: 'HARrassment', not 'harrASSment'.

[RoyBatty]

You would not pronounce 'an history', would you, unless you dropped the 'aitch'.


....and you was from East Enders land. :D

[Cail]

Historically the article has been 'an' (cognate to German 'ein' among others), but 'n' was dropped before consonants. That's the literary norm, though some dialects may differ.

[Hrolf Kraki]

Brits say "an historian." Americans say "a historian." At least that's how it's written.

The Shetlanders just use 'a' for everything.

[Osweo]

Emphasis on the first syllable is generally better.

Example: 'HARrassment', not 'harrASSment'.

GARidge or guhRADZH then, Fortis? ;) (Or even the unchanged French original; guhraZH?!?)

Like the Welshers with their 'garej', I prefer the former.

But if you take it to extremes, you end up like the delightful Yanks who say EYEraq and EYEran.... :rotfl:

[Hrolf Kraki]

GARidge or guhRADZH then, Fortis? ;) (Or even the unchanged French original; guhraZH?!?)

Like the Welshers with their 'garej', I prefer the former.

But if you take it to extremes, you end up like the delightful Yanks who say EYEraq and EYEran.... :rotfl:

I say [ɪrɑːk] / [ɪrɑːn]. As far as colloquial goes I've been hearing [aɪræk] less and less, while [ɪræk] seems to have grown in popularity. I never hear [ɪræn] though; it's always [aɪræn] or [ɪrɑːn].

[Osweo]

I say [ɪrɑːk] / [ɪrɑːn]. As far as colloquial goes I've been hearing [aɪræk] less and less, while [ɪræk] seems to have grown in popularity. I never hear [ɪræn] though; it's always [aɪræn] or [ɪrɑːn].

Hehe, my own dialect habitually gives [ɪrɑk] and [ɪrɑn] without any lengthening of the second stressed vowel. It's probably the closest of all types of English to reproducing the native sound. :p

[Fortis in Arduis]

GARidge or guhRADZH then, Fortis? ;) (Or even the unchanged French original; guhraZH?!?)

Like the Welshers with their 'garej', I prefer the former.

But if you take it to extremes, you end up like the delightful Yanks who say EYEraq and EYEran.... :rotfl:

GAraargzh.

You know that.

[Absinthe]

http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/a-anlessn.html

WHEN TO USE -A- Use a if the next word begins with a consonant (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:VocabOpen%28%29) SOUND. This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.
a box
a cat
a university (university begins with a consonant sound)
a unicorn (unicorn begins with a consonant sound)
a European trip (European begins with a consonant sound)
a hotel (hotel begins with a consonant sound)


WHEN TO USE -AN- Use AN if the next word begins with a vowel (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:VocabOpen%28%29) SOUND. This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.
an atom
an entrance
an ice cream cone
an uncle (uncle begins with a vowel sound)
an hour (the h is silent, thus a vowel sound)
I have been following this rule as well (phonetic)

[Liffrea]

I just use what sounds and looks right, like most native English speakers I have never studied grammar nor care to either.

[Hrolf Kraki]

I have been following this rule as well (phonetic)

Excellent!

I always giggle when I see someone write 'a hour' or 'an European'. :p