I can't count the number of times I've heard or read someone precede the word "historic" with the article "an." This isn't because I'm somehow deficient at math. I've simply lost track.
I'd approximate that four out of five times I hear or read someone utter the two words "an historic," they sound extremely confident when doing so - like they've just wowed the world by thinking they've correctly preceded "historic" with "an," when in fact they're incorrect on the matter.
I always find that to be humorous. It's one thing for a person to be wrong about a claim they make. It's quite another for them to be uber-confident about said claim and be wrong.
It reminds me of a time back in grade school. Some classmates and I arrived to school early and were waiting for the doors to be opened. For whatever reason, I asked one of them, almost jokingly, what the capital of Nebraska was. For the record, we resided in Elkhorn, Nebraska, which is known to some as West Omaha. His response? Elkhorn. Of course, Elkhorn isn't the capital city of Nebraska. The capital is Lincoln. I chuckled at this and corrected him on the matter. He remained steadfast about his claim that the small town of Elkhorn (known as West Omaha) was the state's capital. If only we had smartphones back at that time.
The truth of the matter is that the article "an" precedes a word that has a vowel-sound. The words "hour" and "honor" are two such examples. Since the "h" is silent in both words and both sound as if they begin with vowels, it is proper to precede the two words with "an" and not "a" - an honor or an hour.
How do we pronounce "historic?" Is that "h" sound present at the start of the word? As far as I know, the answer to that is yes. Therefore, one should precede the word with "a" and not "an." If the word were spelled and pronounced as "istoric," then it would be proper to precede it with "an." However, I can't say I've ever taken an "istory" class before, nor would I ever want to do so. What all would be covered in this "istory" course anyway? I've never checked into an "otel" before either. I've also never seen an "orror" film. Well, on that note, I think I'm going to make an "istoric" happen by watching an "orror" film at an "otel." Wish me luck!
http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/a-historic-event-or-an-historic-event
I'd approximate that four out of five times I hear or read someone utter the two words "an historic," they sound extremely confident when doing so - like they've just wowed the world by thinking they've correctly preceded "historic" with "an," when in fact they're incorrect on the matter.
I always find that to be humorous. It's one thing for a person to be wrong about a claim they make. It's quite another for them to be uber-confident about said claim and be wrong.
It reminds me of a time back in grade school. Some classmates and I arrived to school early and were waiting for the doors to be opened. For whatever reason, I asked one of them, almost jokingly, what the capital of Nebraska was. For the record, we resided in Elkhorn, Nebraska, which is known to some as West Omaha. His response? Elkhorn. Of course, Elkhorn isn't the capital city of Nebraska. The capital is Lincoln. I chuckled at this and corrected him on the matter. He remained steadfast about his claim that the small town of Elkhorn (known as West Omaha) was the state's capital. If only we had smartphones back at that time.
The truth of the matter is that the article "an" precedes a word that has a vowel-sound. The words "hour" and "honor" are two such examples. Since the "h" is silent in both words and both sound as if they begin with vowels, it is proper to precede the two words with "an" and not "a" - an honor or an hour.
How do we pronounce "historic?" Is that "h" sound present at the start of the word? As far as I know, the answer to that is yes. Therefore, one should precede the word with "a" and not "an." If the word were spelled and pronounced as "istoric," then it would be proper to precede it with "an." However, I can't say I've ever taken an "istory" class before, nor would I ever want to do so. What all would be covered in this "istory" course anyway? I've never checked into an "otel" before either. I've also never seen an "orror" film. Well, on that note, I think I'm going to make an "istoric" happen by watching an "orror" film at an "otel." Wish me luck!
http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/a-historic-event-or-an-historic-event
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