grammar: a vs an

[rudeguy]

Lol, the battle is so intense because the stakes are so small! :awe:

butter

 

[JujuFish]

I'm a born and bred American. I love the English language. I, and every literate American I've known, including all my teaches and professors, instinctively say "an habitual." None of us are poseurs or morons.

I'm so glad you can speak for other people when you say they "instinctively" say a phrase. I find it incredibly doubtful that every literate American you've known says it your way, and your snide attitude about it only weakens your professed love of the language. As an Ivy League-educated individual myself, I've found "a habitual" to be more prevalent.

In fact, Google Ngrams support the case that "a habitual" has overtaken "an habitual" in usage since about 1971. As I was born well after 1971, it's unsurprising that I say "a habitual," and I'm guessing you were born near or before that year.

 

[tynopik]

I'm a born and bred American. I love the English language. I, and every literate American I've known, including all my teaches and professors, instinctively say "an habitual." None of us are poseurs or morons.

I've never heard anyone say 'an habitual' IRL.

 

[Perknose]

I've never heard anyone say 'an habitual' IRL.

Get out more, then?

 

[Drako]

I've never heard anyone say 'an habitual' IRL.

Me neither - we must not be literate or have any literate acquaintances. :hmm:

 

[edro]

You're a moron for not understanding the concept of "weakly pronounced."

Nope, still sounds stupid no matter how weak the h is.

This thread goes to show most mods are elitist Tories.
Edit: Oh, wait, I thought Mark was a mod... maybe it's just Perk...

Where's DrPizza? He will serve you all an American lesson in grammar.

 

[SKORPI0]

Someone here failed Grade school grammar? :awe:

 

[rh71]

let's just blame the British.

 

[rudeguy]

Nope, still sounds stupid no matter how weak the h is.

This thread goes to show most mods are elitist Tories.

You are an hollow headed hooligan!

 

[Drako]

You are an hollow headed hooligan!

That's a hard "h" you moron.

 

[Perknose]

That's a hard "h" you moron.

What's funny is that we pronounce "herb" entirely without the "h" while the Brits fully pronounce it with one, because, as Eddie Izzard famously said, "It begins with a f*cking "h!"

 

[IronWing]

Jim Morrison pronounced hello w/ and w/o the h in the same song.

 

[Perknose]

Jim Morrison pronounced hello w/ and w/o the h in the same song.

That's because, as a moron who was simultaneously not an elitist Tory, he encompassed both worlds. Not many know this, but he was a fusion grammarian. :awe:

 

[Ichinisan]

No, it's not a hard sound at all! That statement completely misses the mark. It's not about any putative silent "h" at all. The subtlety of the truth of the matter seems to elude you.

Mark R has it right. Read and learn:



This nuance was listed in a grammar link above:



I'm a born and bred American. I love the English language. I, and every literate American I've known, including all my teaches and professors, instinctively say "an habitual." None of us are poseurs or morons.

:hmm:

I don't think I've ever heard "an habitual [...]" that I can recall.

 

[Ichinisan]

Me neither - we must not be literate or have any literate acquaintances. :hmm:

I guess not

 

[feralkid]

Jim Morrison pronounced hello w/ and w/o the h in the same song.

That's an ell of an haccent he as.

 

[WelshBloke]

... and people are allowed to immigrate to the US from the UK without being morons.

Although, historically, many of the people that did emigrate to the US were morons and couldn't compete in a country that was already full.

:sneaky:

 

[WelshBloke]

:hmm:

I don't think I've ever heard "an habitual [...]" that I can recall.

I've never heard 'a habitual' so we cancel out.

Seriously though 'ahh habitual' sounds really clumsy compared to 'ahn abitual'.

 

[Ichinisan]

I've never heard 'a habitual' so we cancel out.

Seriously though 'ahh habitual' sounds really clumsy compared to 'ahn abitual'.

It's "a" (like "hay").

 

[Rakehellion]

exception: Words that start with "H". Then you use "an" if you want to sound like a dick.

:awe:

 

[ThinClient]

While writing, I noticed that "an one to one comparison" didn't sound right but "a one to one comparison" did. Which way is right? Is there an exception to the an before vowel rules?

The way you choose is determined in pronunciation. The correct choice must be spoken. If the first syllable of the word is a hard sound, you choose "a" while a soft sound deserves "an" before it.

"Horse" is a hard sound, so you wouldn't say "an horse."

"Honor" is a soft sound, so you WOULD say "an honor."

"One" is a hard sound.

 

[Imp]

Woops...

I always thought it was based on the starting letter of the next word, but I've probably been doing it properly by sound just because I don't need no stinking rules cuz my English be so goods.

 

[purbeast0]

how the fuck is this even a question? did you guys who didn't know this go to grade school or what?

 

[Moonbeam]

I heard a US senator say 'that was a hyperbowl' instead of a hyperbole. He was doubtless a very intelligent person who had the misfortune never to have heard another intelligent speaker who knew proper pronunciation.

To say a habituation would be an habituation that was improperly formed.

 

[Fenixgoon]

one begins with a W sound, so "a" is correct here. I believe.

yes, you use 'an' when it's followed by a vowel SOUND

bingo