An Historic Community
A Historic Community
or both?
A Historic Community
or both?
Grammar Test
I would say "A" but I think either one is correct.
An… Its an exception to the rule. The leading 'H' has a vowel sound so to speak and thus calls for an instead of a.
ok ok
dr. grammer says
A or An?
According to The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style, "The indefinite article a is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, including /y/ and /w/ sounds. The other form, an, is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. Hence, a European country, a Ouija board, a uniform, an FBI agent, an MBA degree, an SEC filing. Writers on usage formerly disputed whether the correct article is a or an with historian, historic, and a few other words. The traditional rule is that if the h- is sounded, a is the proper form. Most people following that rule would say a historian and a historic–e.g.:'Democrat Bill Clinton appears within reach of capturing the White House in Tuesday's election, but Republicans hope that late momentum, can enable President Bush to win a historic upset' (Dallas Morning News). Even H.W. Fowler, in the England of 1926, advocated a before historic(al) and humble (MEU1).
The theory behind using an in such a context, however, is that the h- is very weak when the accent is on the second rather than the first syllable (giving rise, by analogy, to an habitual offender, an humanitarian, an hallucinatory image, and an harassed schoolteacher). Thus no authority countenances an history[emphasis added], though a few older ones prefer an historian and an historical.
Today, however, an hypothesis and an historical are likely to strike readers and listeners as affectations. As Mark Twain once wrote, referring to humble, heroic, and historical: 'Correct writers of the American language do not put an before those words' (The Stolen White Elephant,1882). Anyone who sounds the h- in such words should avoid pretense and use a (Garner 1).
dr. grammer says
A or An?
According to The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style, "The indefinite article a is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, including /y/ and /w/ sounds. The other form, an, is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. Hence, a European country, a Ouija board, a uniform, an FBI agent, an MBA degree, an SEC filing. Writers on usage formerly disputed whether the correct article is a or an with historian, historic, and a few other words. The traditional rule is that if the h- is sounded, a is the proper form. Most people following that rule would say a historian and a historic–e.g.:'Democrat Bill Clinton appears within reach of capturing the White House in Tuesday's election, but Republicans hope that late momentum, can enable President Bush to win a historic upset' (Dallas Morning News). Even H.W. Fowler, in the England of 1926, advocated a before historic(al) and humble (MEU1).
The theory behind using an in such a context, however, is that the h- is very weak when the accent is on the second rather than the first syllable (giving rise, by analogy, to an habitual offender, an humanitarian, an hallucinatory image, and an harassed schoolteacher). Thus no authority countenances an history[emphasis added], though a few older ones prefer an historian and an historical.
Today, however, an hypothesis and an historical are likely to strike readers and listeners as affectations. As Mark Twain once wrote, referring to humble, heroic, and historical: 'Correct writers of the American language do not put an before those words' (The Stolen White Elephant,1882). Anyone who sounds the h- in such words should avoid pretense and use a (Garner 1).
how about "the historic community"?
Originally posted by walkonby:oh btw, the reason for this is, there is a sign near my house for the neighborhood that says
how about "the historic community"?
"Ridgely's Delight: An Historic Community"
and i looked the other day and thought, "thats not right!"
but alas, it is right. I suppose next time i am at Burger King i can ask for "an hamburger"
Originally posted by sonickteam, forum nice guy:an shroom burger?
Originally posted by walkonby:oh btw, the reason for this is, there is a sign near my house for the neighborhood that says
how about "the historic community"?
"Ridgely's Delight: An Historic Community"
and i looked the other day and thought, "thats not right!"
but alas, it is right. I suppose next time i am at Burger King i can ask for "an hamburger"
Originally posted by walkonby:…With extra peyote?
an shroom burger?
Originally posted by sonickteam, forum nice guy:This is what I was taught for public speaking. And you use the long "A" in speech before the h word.
The traditional rule is that if the h- is sounded, a is the proper form. Most people following that rule would say a historian and a historic–e.g.:'Democrat Bill Clinton appears within reach of capturing the White House in Tuesday's election, but Republicans hope that late momentum, can enable President Bush to win a historic upset' (Dallas Morning News).
By the way, that example sentence has an errant comma in it. Good job, Dallas!
Nice! I got it right. was just a lucky guess.
Originally posted by sonickteam, forum nice guy:
The traditional rule is that if the h- is sounded, a is the proper form.
-edit- Odd double post….sorry
An is still correct over A.
How about this one!
An Post
Right or wrong…or both?
An Post
Right or wrong…or both?
Originally posted by sonickteam, forum nice guy:I thought big corporations were for the sheep of the world. I woulda thought you guys would know this great underground hamburger joint that served the best burgers in the world…..Well, at least until everyone found out about them and started eating there.
but alas, it is right. I suppose next time i am at Burger King i can ask for "an hamburger" [/QB]
(And no Sonick, before you get defensive, this isn't neccessarily (sp) something you've said, but other people)
how about a hysterectomy?
a hymn?
a he
a him
a her
a horse
a house
a horrible experience
a high
a hot cup of coffee
a huge hill
a hill
a home
the list is endless…….
a him
a her
a horse
a house
a horrible experience
a high
a hot cup of coffee
a huge hill
a hill
a home
the list is endless…….
Bob the substitute Home Ec teacher comes into my kitchen and wants to borrow a egg.
If you don't want it sunny-side up, I can make it over easy.