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Title: The Proper Use of A and An
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Published: Nov 17, 2012
Author: me
Post Date: 2012-11-17 22:45:20 by James Deffenbach
Keywords: None
Views: 361
Comments: 30
It just drives me crazy to see otherwise intelligent people use the word "a" where they should use an and some people ALWAYS use "a" and never use an. But that is not correct. Use 'an' if the next word starts with a vowel sound. If it does not, then use 'a'. Examples: Buy a house in an hour. (Although 'house' and 'hour' start with the same three letters (hou), one attracts 'a' and the other 'an'.) An unknown goblin killed a unicorn. An LRS... (LRS - Linear Recursive Sequence) A TT race... (TT - Tourist Trophy) It would be a honour.--this is incorrect ('honour' - starts with an o sound) Send an US ambassador. incorrect ('US' - starts with a y sound) She was involved in a RTA. incorrect ('RTA' - Road Traffic Accident) Source: Grammar-Monster.com
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#1. To: All (#0)
(Edited)
Abbreviations that start with the consonants F, H, L, M, N, R, S and X attract an, because they start with vowel sounds. An FRS representative will be present. (FRS - Fellow of the Royal Society) A LF transmitter was found in the basement. X (LF - Low Frequency) WATCH OUT FOR U Abbreviations that start with the vowel U attract a, because U starts with the consonant sound 'y'. A US ship spotted a U-boat. An UFO landed in 1967. X TREAT ACRONYMS LIKE WORDS NOT ABBREVIATIONS An acronym is an abbreviation that is spoken like a word, e.g., BUPA, FOD, FEDEX. Therefore, as the first sound of FEDEX is 'f', use a and not an. Tim worked in the air industry as a FOD inspector for a year. (FOD - Foreign Object Damage) Jack was a FEDEX courier. Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi "If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken "..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
I do it on purpose sometimes to convey a sense of hickishness. LOL! Whatever turns you on I suppose. And maybe I am picky but it just reads wrong and sounds wrong.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi "If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken "..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
Abbreviations that start with the vowel U attract a, because U starts with the consonant sound 'y'. The business executive portrayed by Clarence Kolb in the movie "Impact" [1949] makes that mistake near the beginning of the film by saying, "An unanimous vote!" It really sounds odd. Yeah, you have to be careful with it and listen to what sounds right--if it sounds right it is probably because it is.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi "If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken "..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
I wonder about the use of 'a' or 'an' in front of an abbreviation - if there is a good chance that the reader will (more or less automatically) expand the abbreviation to complete words. Maybe this writer is accustomed to seeing LRS as el-ahr-ess but someone like me would probably make a point of expanding it to Linear Recursive Sequence.
Could be I suppose. Although I think the examples he gave of acronyms suited the point he (or she) was trying to make.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi "If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken "..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
It bugs me when the so-called professional writers do it. 
#2. To: James Deffenbach (#0)
It just drives me crazy to see otherwise intelligent people use the word "a" where they should use an...
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#3. To: Esso (#2)
#4. To: James Deffenbach (#1)
WATCH OUT FOR U
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#5. To: Esso (#4)
#6. To: James Deffenbach (#0)
#7. To: Shoonra (#6)
#8. To: James Deffenbach (#3)
And maybe I am picky but it just reads wrong and sounds wrong.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#9. To: James Deffenbach (#0)
-Alex Kurtagic
#10. To: James Deffenbach (#0)
What drives me nuts is when I see in writing "an historian" when it's "a historian." They wouldn't say "an history," would they?
There are actually govt agents who spread conspiracy theories among the gullible to help promote the illusion that the govt is all powerful.
#11. To: X-15 (#9)
LOL. I guess that's right--or as I sometimes say, Daz rat! I saw something funny just now. My dvd drive is acting up (won't play my music cd's) and I was looking at one on Amazon and this guy wrote a review for it. Now I don't know if he was being serious or making a joke but it was funny (and made him look really ignorant). 1.0 out of 5 stars does not work, November 8, 2012 By XXXXX - See all my reviews This review is from: Asus 24xDVD-RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black) (Personal Computers) i put some bologna in it and it did nt cook. if u want microwav for ur computer this does not work. 0 out of 5 stars. I x'd out his name. Just after I read that I saw this funny picture. 
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi
"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken
"..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance
Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
#12. To: Turtle (#10)
Does "an historian" sound wrong to you? Some people say history with the h almost silent and the English folks (of England) drop the h on just about everything. An historian doesn't sound that bad to me but maybe it is the way I hear historian and the way I say it. But no, I don't think anyone would say "an history" and certainly not if they were enunciating the h.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi
"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken
"..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance
Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
#13. To: Esso (#8)
Yes, I agree. They should know better. They are paid to know better. It bugs me when the so-called professional writers do it.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi
"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken
"..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance
Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
#14. To: James Deffenbach (#0)
Good points on the usages of A and An. I would suggest a handy tool on such things like this. It is a reference book entitled A Writer's Reference by Diana Hacker.
#15. To: purplerose (#14) (Edited)
The site I linked to, Grammar-Monster, seems pretty thorough. Has stuff in it about the difference between your and you're (something a certain poster on LP never could understand no matter how many people tried to explain the difference to him). I think it also has the difference between to and too which is something else a lot of people get confused with.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi
"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken
"..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance
Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
#16. To: Turtle, James Deffenbach (#10) (Edited)
That is not "a unusual" occurrence. A lot of British writers write thisaway - writers who write big, thick, professionally edited books. This goes to show that these rules don't show the "proper" way to write or say something. That is to say, there is no grammar angel that anoints this or that usage with a "Thus shalt thou write it." The rules we use represent conventions. And those conventions change from time to time and place to place. What drives me nuts is when I see in writing "an historian" when it's "a historian." They wouldn't say "an history," would they?
#17. To: James Deffenbach (#0)
This was hammered/corrected since I was a kid; if you don't get it then, very likely you never will.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#18. To: Lod (#17)
I dunno. I have taught these rules to people well into adulthood using systematic instruction and by reminding them often that if they can't write they won't get a decent job and that others will consider them illiterate.
#19. To: randge (#18)
I'm grateful for parents, family, and teachers who got it right, back in the day.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#20. To: Esso, James Deffenbach (#8)
it bothers me when so called professional writers use it's (the contraction for it is)rather than its when the usage is possessive. another often misused word i see OF LATE is loose rather than lose. what the heck is with that? i see it so often that i'm shocked.
#21. To: Lod (#19)
Me too. My first grade teacher told my mother that I would never learn to read. So my mom took over the job, and soon I was reading books. I'm grateful for parents, family, and teachers who got it right, back in the day.
#22. To: christine (#20)
Are you series? /freeptard speak another often misused word i see OF LATE is loose rather than lose. what the heck is with that? i see it so often that i'm shocked.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi
"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken
"..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance
Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
#23. To: James Deffenbach (#15)
But he made up for it by becoming an expert on world affairs. "....the difference between your and you're (something a certain poster on LP never could understand no matter how many people tried to explain the difference to him)."
#24. To: James Deffenbach (#11)
1) search for 'best whatever product' 2) read two or three of the reviews for specific product 3) place said product in 'tube search and see videos and comments 4) this has saved me from some duds that otherwise would have been purchases new product search i now use -
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#25. To: Big Meanie (#23)
LOL! He always tickled me when someone was giving him a good ass kicking and he would tell them, "we're done." And one of his best lines when talking to his intellectual superiors, and lo, they were legion, was "Your (sic) not well read." BWAHAHAHAHA. And the thing that about tickled me to death was his post about how he saw a guy get sucked into the engine of a PROP plane, one they don't even use aboard any ship. And another time I remember he got all upset and started rambling and said something about his business "ownershi entails." Thought I would fall out of my chair!
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi
"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken
"..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance
Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
#26. To: Lod (#24)
1) search for 'best whatever product' 2) read two or three of the reviews for specific product 3) place said product in 'tube search and see videos and comments 4) this has saved me from some duds that otherwise would have been purchases I am sure it has. I try to find reviews on anything I am thinking about buying. If too many people say it sucks you probably don't want it. new product search i now use -
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi
"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken
"..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance
Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
#27. To: Big Meanie, Starwind, Pinguinite (#23) (Edited)
Do you remember the EPIC beatdown Starwind put on that blowhard over on LP? It was awesome. Neil kicked his butt good too. Economy Grows at Slower Pace Than Expected If anyone wants to check and doesn't want to start from the top and read all of it just go to post 34.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi
"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken
"..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance
Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
#28. To: randge, James Deffenbach, Turtle (#16)
That is not "a unusual" occurrence. A lot of British writers write thisaway - writers who write big, thick, professionally edited books. This goes to show that these rules don't show the "proper" way to write or say something. That is to say, there is no grammar angel that anoints this or that usage with a "Thus shalt thou write it." The rules we use represent conventions. And those conventions change from time to time and place to place. I'm sure it's how it's pronounced that is important rather than how it's spelled. The British don't pronounce the h. I imagine the appointed english language authorities have this clearly established. Not so much in the colonies. What drives me nuts is when I see in writing "an historian" when it's "a historian." They wouldn't say "an history," would they?
"For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst, and to provide for it.” ~ Patrick Henry
#29. To: wudidiz (#28)
Yes. Always pay attention to how it sounds. If it doesn't sound right it probably isn't.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi
"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." Mencken
"..if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance
Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
#30. To: wudidiz (#28)
I used to work with a bunch of Brits.I have heard them say "an 'istorian." I have also heard them say "an historian." They never say "an history." Must have something to do with the stress shift between the two words, I'd guess. FWIW We don't have officially appointed authorities in the English language world like the French or the Spanish do with the Académie Française or the Real Academia Española. We rely on the consensus between academic, private and semi-private organizations like Oxford, Websters, UPI and a host of institutes that generally agree on the simple stuff like the use of "a" and "an." Things may differ depending on what side of the drink you're working on or the kind of writing you're doing. I'm sure it's how it's pronounced that is important rather than how it's spelled.
I imagine the appointed english language authorities have this clearly established. Not so much in the colonies.
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