Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site druxu.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!drutx!druxu!tll From: tll@druxu.UUCP (LaidigTL) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: Question about "an" Message-ID: <905@druxu.UUCP> Date: Tue, 31-Jan-84 13:25:52 EST Article-I.D.: druxu.905 Posted: Tue Jan 31 13:25:52 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 7-Feb-84 11:10:44 EST References: <567@ihuxq.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver Lines: 19 The use of "an" before words that begin with an "h" sound is, I believe, correct in British usage (any Brits out there may refute this statement if appropriate). In US American usage, it is not correct. Quoting from my dictionary here in the office ("The Winston Dictionary", copyright 1946 -- yeah, it's an off-brand, and old... so what?), "an" is "used before an initial vowel sound, including silent *h*, not before the sound of *h* or *y*; as, *an* egg, *an* hour, *a* hotel, *a* ewe" [asterisks used to denote italics]. I believe I saw the same statement in Strunk and White's "Elements of Style," but my copy of it is at home, so you better check to make sure. I think the reason US Americans use phrases like "an historic" is that it sounds British, and therefore cultured. What's the story in Canada? Tom Laidig AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver ...!ihnp4!druxu!tll