An Hot Topic (part II)
The debate about grammar and use of english rages on
Following the recent tirade from trainee consultant F about the use of “a” or “an” I decided to look at two sources to determine whether the use of an H was incorrect. I consulted a Doctor of English who informed me it was completely correct, if a little old fashioned. The second was the chambers dictionary which states “Some people use an before words beginning with a weakly sounded h, eg an hotel, an historic occasion. This use of an is no more nor less correct than a; however, it is sometimes regarded as old-fashioned.” http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/features/chref/chref.py/main?query=an&title=21st
I think it is fair to say that this case is now closed and requires no comments or further discussion. It is also true that facts spoil arguments
September 21st, 2006 at 4:29 pm
Call me a pedant if you will, but I would say the word ‘hot’ starts with a strong ‘h’, therefore does not merit the prefix ‘an’ by your rules.
September 21st, 2006 at 5:28 pm
Not wishing to question Con Cs pronunciations but…. In what way is the “h” pronounced differently in hot and hotel. It is the 2nd part of the word that is different not the start.
September 21st, 2006 at 5:42 pm
Not wishing to question Con K’s pronunciation, but according to dictionary.com, “hot” is pronounced “hot” whereas “hotel” is pronounced “hoh-tel” - do you usually say “hot”"el” when talking about a “hotel”? I rather think not. Therefore I must agree with Consulant C.
I would also like to point out that my recent tirade was perfectly correct, as your sources verify. Also I am upset to see that you have not taken into account my suggestion of checking your spelling and grammar before posting - “arguements [sic]” is actually spelt “arguments” I think you’ll find.
Thank-you.
September 21st, 2006 at 5:54 pm
I know that I am just being pedantic for pedantic sake, but the definition describes the “h” and not the first syllable.
PS Am I just being stupid or is argument spelt correctly?
September 21st, 2006 at 6:02 pm
Hmm, in the original version of the post “argument” was spelt incorrectly - somebody has obviously realised and corrected their mistake.
I think you have misunderstood the definition for the use of “an” - it should be used when the “h” is “weak”, not hard (as in “hot”). As I said before, it should to some extent be what sounds correct - you wouldn’t think “a elephant” was aurally pleasing, and neither is “an hot”. I rest my case.
September 21st, 2006 at 7:04 pm
Does this mean that people from Lancashire would be permitted to say an hot while those from Edinburgh would not. Surely the sounding or not sounding of a letter is something that is dictated by accent. I do not disagree that “an hot” sounds wrong with my accent but how is the reader to know my accent. For the purposes of this discussion I therefore revert to my grandparental roots and say “an hot”
September 22nd, 2006 at 9:22 am
“You are wrong, you monkey boy!” said a close-by observer of this thread.
Have I got a picture yet?
September 22nd, 2006 at 10:08 am
I am happy to say that your image is now present but sad to say that I do not loose. I freely admit that I am being pedantic but wannabeees assertions on the use of an are too black and white. English is full of rules that are to be broke (sic).
September 22nd, 2006 at 10:21 am
Oh for goodness sake, this is well beyond common sense. Common sense says that there has to be a set of rules for communication that are held by all in order to make communication comprehensible. Both sources indicate that you can use ‘an’ or ‘a’ in front of an H. Thus, both are correct. Now, let F from England use her ‘an’ if she wants to. I am not saying it is right or wrong (personally, I prefer ‘a’ ), but in many cases, the English are incapable of pronouncing the letter ‘h’ anyway for some reason best known to themselves.
September 22nd, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Unfortunately I have come to this debate a little late. However, I arrive at it armed with ‘the ladybird book of spelling and grammar’, recently retrieved from a collection of childhood possessions that my parents were in the process of clearing out from my old room.
Obviously this definitive edition will settle the debate once and for all, so I shall quote.
“. . . a (or an) is the indefinite article. They have no meaning themselves but refer directly to the noun which always follows them. An is used before a word that starts with a vowel, eg an egg. Some words starting with h also require an before them.”
So there you have it, conclusive proof from Ladybird that the situation is an ambiguous one. Common Sense surely dictates that if the eminent scholars of Ladybird are unable to provide a more definitive answer than “some words” then surely we also cannot. I suggest we say potato and they say potato.
On an other note, I couldn’t help but think that it shows little common sense to arrive at a reasonable
conclusion by punching oneself in the head - as Consultant C’s picture clearly displays.
September 22nd, 2006 at 2:11 pm
Would it not make more sense for the latest postings to appear first on this list, rather than last ? I have already seen the top postings, and am aware of the contents, so do not want to see them again on the way to new postings. Is this possible ?