The disappearing 'an'

[wtaf37]

Since when has 'an' become replaced by 'a' before words begining with a vowel? Hearing for example, 'a apple' or 'a orphan'...
Driving me mad!

@Andtheyalllookjustthesame

Yes but the reason that it is 'an historian' and 'an hotel' in written English is because they are french words we adopted and haven't officially changed the a to an an

History is from Latin/Greek though (I think The Latin word came from greek going by Chambers)

@Andtheyalllookjustthesame

Well you may drop your h's in Scotland but at least you say your R's

Um, what? Scottish people don't tend to drop the 'h', and, yes, we know how to say 'r'.

@OublietteBravo

The only one I’ve really noticed is that an hotel has become a hotel. This was definitely not the case when I was at school.

The "correct" pronunciation used to be "an otel".

@SoupDragon

I haven't heard that at all.

Nor have I.

@Andtheyalllookjustthesame

Yes but the reason that it is 'an historian' and 'an hotel' in written English is because they are french words we adopted and haven't officially changed the a to an an

Well there you go, now I know! Thanks!

I’m a teacher and we teach that ‘an’ goes with a vowel sound (rather than a vowel letter IYSWIM). So, a unicorn but an umbrella. A hotel but an honest opinion.

@VashtaNerada

I’m a teacher and we teach that ‘an’ goes with a vowel sound (rather than a vowel letter IYSWIM). So, a unicorn but an umbrella. A hotel but an honest opinion.

YIDSWYM