Why do you say an before historic?

Multisyllabic French-derived words like habitual, historical, and historic are laggards in this transition to the enunciated “h.” They are stressed on the second syllable, so that “an historic” rolls off the tongue more easily than “a historic.” A third of English speakers thus still write “an” with these words.

Is it correct to say an historic or a historic?

Although there are regional variations, the standard American pronunciation of historic starts with a consonant sound (just like the words hit and hipster), so the correct choice is a historic. There's nothing special about historic that exempts it from the standard rule.

Why is an used before historic?

The reason for this is that in these two words the initial H was, for a long time, unstressed to the point of inaudibility, and so one would typically see “an historic(al”) written (and some people still do not pronounce the initial H of these two words).

Do you use a or in front of historic?

The rule is that a precedes consonant sounds and an precedes vowel sounds — a, e, i, o and u. When the h is silent, as in honor, honest, hour and herb, use an. When the h is sounded, as in home and (ahem!) historic, use a.

Is it a or an before the word historic?

In all main varieties of English, the use of an as the article preceding historic (an historic) is an unnecessary affectation. The rule for the indefinite article is that we use a before words beginning with a consonant sound, and an before words beginning with a vowel sound.

An Before H Words | An Historic?

Is it correct to say a hotel or an hotel?

“A hotel” is correct because the “h” in “hotel” is not silent. You need to pronounce the “h” in “hotel” so we use the article “a”. You usually book a hotel before you travel to a destination.

Is it an horrific or a horrific?

Some speakers do not pronounce the 'h' at the beginning of horrific and use 'an' instead of 'a' before it. This now sounds old-fashioned.

Why do we say a unicorn and not an unicorn?

Now it's true that a unicorn is mythical but this is not why the word doesn't follow the pattern. Unicorn doesn't follow the pattern because, when you say it, it doesn't start with a vowel. It starts with a consonant. The sound “yu” is a consonant, so we say, “a unicorn.”

When should I use an?

A and an are two different forms of the same word: the indefinite article a that is used before noun phrases. Use a when the noun or adjective that comes next begins with a consonant sound. Use an when the noun or adjective that comes next begins with a vowel sound.

Is an university or a university?

The U in university is pronounced with a long 'u' sound which sounds like 'yew' and is written as j in the phonetic alphabet. So, although the letter is a vowel, it is not pronounced like one in 'university' because it does not have a vowel sound. We therefore say 'a university'.

Is it a hospital or an hospital?

The rule in English (but not American) is that if the word begins with a consonant, it has 'a'; but if it begins with a vowel, then it is 'an'. The word 'hospital' begins with an (see below) 'h' sound, so it is 'a hospital'. (The 'a' is pronounced 'uh'.)

Is it a European or an European?

'An' is used before words which begin with a vowel sound. Note that we are talking about sounds and not spelling. For example the word "European" begins with the vowel letter 'e' but it is pronounced with the consonant sound / j /. Therefore we say and write, "He's British but he thinks of himself as a European."

Which is correct an honest or a honest?

An honest is correct... the word honest starts with a vowel sound, since the letter "h" is not pronounced in this situation. It happens with other words that start with "h". Honest Honor Hour Hope this helps!!

When you write a and an?

Articles: A versus An

If the first letter makes a vowel-type sound, you use "an"; if the first letter would make a consonant-type sound, you use "a." However, even if you follow these basic rules when deciding to use "a" or "an," remember that there are some exceptions to these rules.

Does an come before H?

Use “a” before words where you pronounce the letter “H” such as “a hat,” “a house” or “a happy cat.” Use “an” before words where you don't pronounce the letter “H” such as “an herb,” “an hour,” or “an honorable man.”

What is the difference between historical and historic?

Historical is used as the general term for describing history, such as 'the historical record,' while historic is now usually reserved for important and famous moments in history, such as 'a historic battle.

Is it a or an uniform?

The rule of placing an before a vowel is actually to place an before a vowel sound. Therefore, because uniform is pronounced with a "y" sound (/ˈjuːnɪfɔːm/), which is not a vowel sound, it takes an a before it.

Why do we use an before vowels?

The rule actually is that you use 'an' before a vowel sound, not just the vowel (which is why there are exceptions like the word 'honest') and 'a' before words starting with a consonant sound. The reason for doing this, as far as I can tell, is because if you do the opposite you need to pause between the words.

How do you teach a and an?

A dictogloss

The teacher reads out a text with lots of examples of “a” and “an” twice. Students just listen the first time and listen and make notes the second time, then work together to reconstruct the whole text. Perhaps after comparing with the original text, students then discuss the rule for “a”/“an”.

Why do we say an ice cream?

Any word which begins either with a vowel or an vowel sound, should be prefixed with an. An ice cream is the correct one because i is a vowel ie aeiou .

Is it an egg or a egg?

this is __an___ egg.

we use an before the words which start with a vowel like a,e,i,o,u. the is used before a proper noun. a is used before a common noun.

Is it a ukulele or an ukulele?

The Hawaiian pronunciation is oo-koo-ley-ley. Pronounce it Hawaiian style, and *'an 'ukulele' *sounds just fine.

Why do we say an hotel and not a hotel?

The general rule of English Language is that 'a' is used to precede a consonant word, while 'an' is used to precede a vowel word. Hence, every consonant word must start with 'a'. H being a consonant word must be preceded by 'a'. Hence, it is only grammatically correct to say 'a hotel'.

Do you say a hour or an hour?

You use 'an' before words that begin with the five vowels – a, e, i, o, u. However, the way you pronounce it and not the spelling, shows you which one you must use. Examples: You should say, 'an hour' (because hour begins with a vowel sound) and 'a history' (because history begins with a consonant sound).

Do you say an H or ah?

"An" depends on how its pronounced. A - Before a word starting with a pronounced, breathy “h,” use “a.” Examples: A hotel; A happy time; A historical day; A healthy, happy baby. An - Use “an” with words beginning with an unpronounced “h.” Examples: An herb garden; an hour; an honor; An heir.