Pedants' corner
Use of 'a' instead of 'an' before a vowel sound
WhenDovesFly · 07/03/2023 20:00
I'm seeing this more and more, not just here on MN but on social media in general.
For example, someone writing a apple, or a elephant. Unless in their head they're sounding the 'a' as you would when reciting the alphabet, then it doesn't even sound right, as well as being grammatically incorrect.
It makes me want to scream when I notice it.
WhenDovesFly · 07/03/2023 20:20
DysonBison · 07/03/2023 20:04
Is this maybe a second or third language thing? In the same way French people must notice every misplaced la or le?
That's possible I suppose. I have a friend who does it. His first language is English but he's dyslexic, so that's another possible reason.
WhenDovesFly · 08/03/2023 10:39
RubyRoss · 08/03/2023 09:38
In a different vein, the construction 'an otel' instead of 'a hotel' drives me crazy when I hear it. Mainly by older newsreaders here in Ireland. I assume they were formally taught to do this.
I'm in UK and late 50s and remember being taught 'an otel', so yes it was formally taught. I don't tend to use it now and prefer to say a hotel.
ScentOfAMemory · 08/03/2023 10:42
RubyRoss · 08/03/2023 09:38
In a different vein, the construction 'an otel' instead of 'a hotel' drives me crazy when I hear it. Mainly by older newsreaders here in Ireland. I assume they were formally taught to do this.
But that's a correct (and very formal) standard variation. Very RP.
It's passing out of usage but it's a completely different thing to not using the correct article.
purpledalmation · 08/03/2023 10:54
An hotel is actually correct, but generally not used. I don't think an hospital is correct but I was taught 'h' is a letter you use an with, in some cases, with the vowels.
I'm sure in speech people writing a apple would actual say an apple? Sounds odd otherwise.
JenniferBarkley · 08/03/2023 11:06
RubyRoss · 08/03/2023 09:38
In a different vein, the construction 'an otel' instead of 'a hotel' drives me crazy when I hear it. Mainly by older newsreaders here in Ireland. I assume they were formally taught to do this.
I think that's particularly jarring from Irish people because that's not how Irish people of any region I know would naturally speak. Like the way people get a job at RTE and then seemingly have to call it "Arrr Tee Ee" instead of "Oar Tee Eee" like they would have done their whole lives up to that point.
TallulahBetty · 08/03/2023 11:13
Shlomping1234 · 08/03/2023 11:09
I say an apple, an egg etc... but I say a unicorn because an unicorn doesn't seem right. Is it right? 🤔
Yes, because the 'u' makes a YOO sound which is a consonant sound. Whereas the 'a' and 'e' make vowel sounds. Does that make sense? Hard to explain
TallulahBetty · 08/03/2023 11:14
TallulahBetty · 08/03/2023 11:13
Yes, because the 'u' makes a YOO sound which is a consonant sound. Whereas the 'a' and 'e' make vowel sounds. Does that make sense? Hard to explain
Shlomping1234 · 08/03/2023 11:09
I say an apple, an egg etc... but I say a unicorn because an unicorn doesn't seem right. Is it right? 🤔
Sorry, I mean that you are right!
Daffodilsandtuplips · 08/03/2023 11:16
Shlomping1234 · 08/03/2023 11:09
I say an apple, an egg etc... but I say a unicorn because an unicorn doesn't seem right. Is it right? 🤔
I say “a unicorn too”. An unicorn doesn’t sound right. And auto correct seems to agree with us, it kept changing ‘an’ to ‘a’ in the second sentence.
ScentOfAMemory · 08/03/2023 11:20
University begins (phonetically) with the semi-vowel /j/ As does unicorn. Hence "a university" but "an uncle" which begins with a vowel.
Hotel, herb, honour, honest, heir, hour and variations thereof are the words which etymologically came from French where the "h" isn't pronounced. Over the centuries, as language changes, the first two have taken on an initial /h/ whereas the others haven't.
The Queen would have said "an hotel" with a silent "h". Charles too probably. William definitely not.
PedantScorner · 08/03/2023 11:30
University begins (phonetically) with the semi-vowel /j/ As does unicorn. Hence "a university" but "an uncle" which begins with a vowel.
Hotel, herb, honour, honest, heir, hour and variations thereof are the words which etymologically came from French where the "h" isn't pronounced.
I agree with @ScentOfAMemory .
hôtel, herbe, honneur, honnête, héritier, heure.
CaptainMyCaptain · 08/03/2023 11:57
TeaAndStrumpets · 08/03/2023 11:54
Well if you go to parts of Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire you will still hear people say "a egg"! There is a tiny throat sound involved between "a" and "egg"...maybe a linguist could identify?
I'm iDerbyshire and I don't think I've ever heard that although there are other oddities like 'pee-uhs' for peas. I think those things are dying out now.
Justlovedogs · 08/03/2023 11:59
Daffodilsandtuplips · 08/03/2023 11:16
I say “a unicorn too”. An unicorn doesn’t sound right. And auto correct seems to agree with us, it kept changing ‘an’ to ‘a’ in the second sentence.
Shlomping1234 · 08/03/2023 11:09
I say an apple, an egg etc... but I say a unicorn because an unicorn doesn't seem right. Is it right? 🤔
A unicorn is correct (yoo sound not uh) as is an hotel and an historic (silent h so the o takes over). At least, that's how I was taught. It's about the pronunciation not the presence of the vowel.
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