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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