Subject: It's because "h" is the bane of phonetics
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Posted on: 2010-04-20 18:12:00 UTC
I believe this is the 'proper' writing rule. I think it's kind of wormed it's way into more casual writing to actually use an 'an' for words that sound like a vowel though. At that point, it comes down to whether you want to follow the letter of the law or the spirit - accept reinterpretations of language or stay purist.
Now, proper grammar rules dictate that, when referring to nouns, one uses "a" before nouns beginning with consonants (i.e. "a duck") and "an" before nouns beginning with vowels (i.e. "an agent").
However, I've been noticing a discrepancy with the word "historian". Some use "a", some use "an". I know when I speak, I say "an historian" because I have a tendency to leave out the 'h' and say "an 'istorian". It doesn't feel grammatically correct, though.
What is the proper rule for this?
(Also, hello to all newbies I haven't properly greeted! Have egg whisks. They're nifty.)
My phonology professor went on about this endlessly. In short, what we write as "h" is, in practice, a voiceless version of whatever vowel follows it - try saying the words "house", "hair", "hear" and so on, and notice the way your mouth shapes itself before you start to speak; hold it, and then alternate between voicing and not-voicing (that is, vibrating vocal chords - an easier example of that is to hiss "sssssssss-zzzzzzzzz-sssssssss-zzzzzzz" and feel the difference in your throat).
Sorry, I ramble. I like that subject. Anyway, point is, in practice people often drop whatever half-formed sound there is that tries to be an "h" in the first place, and so we use "an", but that's only verbal. In writing - at least until our writing system changes to reflect spoken language, again (and becomes even MORE complicated, *sigh*) - you always need to use the "a". It'll look wrong on paper otherwise.
...I've gone lecture-y again, haven't I? Sorry. But I hope that helps.
I believe this is the 'proper' writing rule. I think it's kind of wormed it's way into more casual writing to actually use an 'an' for words that sound like a vowel though. At that point, it comes down to whether you want to follow the letter of the law or the spirit - accept reinterpretations of language or stay purist.
I stick to the purist rules until they're officially changed - at least when my clients have non-fiction texts. When I'm proofing for fiction writers they have more leeway, but I still wouldn't let "an historian" pass without comment.
Even phonetically that sounds terribly wrong.
Depends on whether you follow that the H is silent or not. It can make a difference, but its totally up to your style or how you were taught.
It has to do with whether the next word has a vowel sound, not letter. So it would be "a historian" or "an 'istorian." In writing, it would probably depend on whether you wrote out the accent.
Good to see you again, Firebird! :)
I think your point about the accent is a good one. If some character says "'istorian", then "an" should be used. However, "historian" should always be paired with "a", even if the author does not pronounce the "h". If the story is being read out loud and the reader says "'istorian", though, the "a" should probably be changed to an "an".
I'm pretty sure that a/an depends on the first pronounced sound of a word. Since you leave off the initial h when speaking, you should probably use "an" when talking to someone, but I would use "a" when writing. That's just my opinion, though, and might not be the correct usage.