a or an?

[john walker's workshop]

as a continuation of the affect/effect post and not wanting to change the subject, i tend to use either a or an depending on how it flows off the tongue. "a object" sounds funny, while "an object" flows better. i suppose there is a rule on it's use.

[Burnin' oil]

"an" if the noun begins with a vowel, "A" if it does not. Although I prefer "them" or "thems."

[Rot 911]

also "an" if the word begins with the letter "h."

[tcar]

Almost.

It's not whether it begins w/ a vowel or consonant,

it's whether it begins w/ a vowel or consonant SOUND.

[tcar]

...more...

The article a is used before consonant sounds; an is used before vowel sounds.


Words beginning with h, o and u sometimes begin with a vowel sound, sometimes a consonant sound.


Consonant Sound: a heroic couplet (h sound)

a once-happy lover (w sound)

a universal problem (y sound)


Vowel Sound: an honest man (no h sound)

an only child (o sound)

an unusual insect (u sound)

[Burnin' oil]

That's why I prefer "them." "Them horses," "them apples," "them cars."

[gtc]

OK... so what's the rule for differentiating between "them" and "thems?"

[Burnin' oil]

That's the beauty of it. There ain't no rule.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Kurt V

also "an" if the word begins with the letter "h."

As in, "An half glass of water" ???

Or, "An homicide" ???

Don't you mean if the "h" is silent? As in. "An herb or honorary degree."

[VaSteve]

OK how about this then....abbreviations. A document is discussing depositing money into a Financial Institution. The document abbreviates it "FI". Should the wording be "take the money to an FI" or "take the money to a FI" correct?


I actually told them to search and replace on "FI" but I was overruled.

[john walker's workshop]

so it seems that i'm basically correct, that it should flow easily.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

That's the beauty of [the entire English language]. There ain't no rules [that don't have exceptions. And There ain't no exceptions that don't have exceptions. Yup it's just an infinite recursion of...].

slight mod to your post...

[syncroid]

I'm with John. I say it however it flows best.

[livi]

Even I know this.

Seriously..

[rnln]

an object. O, A, e, i, (can't remember which is the one more. I remember there are 5) you need to use an instead of a.

[svandamme]

or just work around it

can i have a glass of water?
gimme water , fool !

[URY914]

"....an hour."

[rnln]

ok, "H" add to my list above.

[RWebb]

see? that's why I 'jes goes by ear

[Moses]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

so it seems that i'm basically correct, that it should flow easily.

like crap through a goose.