The Tricky Exceptions to the “A” vs. “An” Rule: The simple grammar rule is more complex than it seems.

Word Smarts ^ | 12/28/2024 | Lisa Galek

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Bump. True that.

[BenLurkin]

How many fish do we need before we have fishes?

[bwest]

Easily explained: a vowel is a sound, not a letter.

[Deepeasttx]

For native English speakers?...who gives a flying f¥{k.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

That’s AN excellent refresher of A basic rule in English. Thanks.

[LukeL]

The King James Bible uses an before many h words. I assumed it was some old British custom.

[decal]

“In British English, the ‘h’ is silent, so ‘an historic’ would be correct. In American English, the ‘h’ was pronounced after the 19th century, so it would be logical to use ‘a historic,’ ...”

Which is the opposite of “herb” - the Brits now pronounce the “h” while Americans don’t.

[HIDEK6]

It has to do with connecting open vowels. It’s to aid in linguistics.

It’s the same thing as piano student’s being taught not to play a black key with the thumb.

[Dr. Sivana]

“Can it core a apple?”— Ed Norton, The Honetmooners

[TangoLimaSierra]

Recently I have been hearing a lot of people in podcasts and such using "a" instead of "an". People who are supposedly smart. Along with many other grammatical errors.
Seems our language is dying.

[SaveFerris]

I demand an harmonica!

M*A*S*H

[LittleBillyInfidel]

That’s so cute! Trying to educate the masses who don’t know the difference between the words “than” and “then”, and who write idiotic phrases like “would of” (see NextRush), and mindlessly parrot lines like “I could care less”.

Yeah, we’re a society of public school educated sheep who really care about usage of the articles “a” and “an”...

(Well, except for the local FR “Regards” dork.)

[Dr. Sivana]

[gundog]

Fishes refers to many kinds of fish. Salmon are fish, as are tuna. Salmon and tuna are fishes.

[dangus]

Not that complex... “An” goes before vowel *sounds*, counting a “y” sound as a consonant sound.

[Magnum44]

[Fester Chugabrew]

After an while it becomes natural which to use.

[Inyo-Mono]

“In British English, the ‘h’ is silent, so ‘an historic’ would be correct. In American English, the ‘h’ was pronounced after the 19th century, so it would be logical to use ‘a historic,’ ...”

Which is the opposite of “herb” - the Brits now pronounce the “h” while Americans don’t.

Interesting, thanks.

[Lake Living]

Unless we’re talking about a guy’s name.