My Morning Jacket

Off-Topic => Off-Topic Ramblings => Topic started by: dcdub on Feb 25, 2010, 11:56 AM

Title: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: dcdub on Feb 25, 2010, 11:56 AM
I've been hearing "an" used before the word "historic" a lot lately. I first heard it in a commercial for some local event celebrating the life of MLK Jr last month, which I found to be initially infuriating, then somewhat humorous. THEN I heard Ben Bailey of Cash Cab use it, so it really got me wondering. What do you guys think/use?
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: mjkoehler on Feb 25, 2010, 12:08 PM
"an" is correct English I believe.

Plus Headdy (that's Headly) Lamar used an in Blazing Saddles so it must be right.
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic
Post by: megalicious on Feb 25, 2010, 12:08 PM
"a historic?"

Also: it irritates the hell out of me when people say "historical." All you need is "historic."
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: ALady on Feb 25, 2010, 12:54 PM
I think either is acceptable in modern usage.
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic
Post by: AMightyCaporal on Feb 25, 2010, 01:08 PM
Quote"a historic?"

Also: it irritates the hell out of me when people say "historical." All you need is "historic."
;D that joke is historical!  ;D

Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: capt. scotty on Feb 25, 2010, 02:24 PM
I thought "an" is only used when the first letter of the word that follows begins with a vowel?  :-?
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: Penny Lane on Feb 25, 2010, 02:38 PM
QuoteI thought "an" is only used when the first letter of the word that follows begins with a vowel?  :-?

No, Capt. Maybe you collaborated w/your friends too much on your take home English exams.  ;) ;D  
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: capt. scotty on Feb 25, 2010, 02:48 PM
Quote
QuoteI thought "an" is only used when the first letter of the word that follows begins with a vowel?  :-?

No, Capt. Maybe you collaborated w/your friends too much on your take home English exams.  ;) ;D  

English was never my strength...I think the last book I willingly read was a R.L. Stine Goosebumps book.

Still, I was pretty sure that was the correct usage of "an"...when can/can't "an" be used then Professor Penny Lane?
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: Penny Lane on Feb 25, 2010, 02:56 PM
Quote
Quote
QuoteI thought "an" is only used when the first letter of the word that follows begins with a vowel?  :-?

No, Capt. Maybe you collaborated w/your friends too much on your take home English exams.  ;) ;D  

English was never my strength...I think the last book I willingly read was a R.L. Stine Goosebumps book.

Still, I was pretty sure that was the correct usage of "an"...when can/can't "an" be used then Professor Penny Lane?

that rule is correct, but w/every rule there are exceptions--i think also w/certain soft "H"s ...like 'honorary'...
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: Ruckus on Feb 25, 2010, 02:57 PM
http://www.betterwritingskills.com/tip-w005.html
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: vespachick on Feb 25, 2010, 03:41 PM
Quote
Quote
QuoteI thought "an" is only used when the first letter of the word that follows begins with a vowel?  :-?

No, Capt. Maybe you collaborated w/your friends too much on your take home English exams.  ;) ;D  

English was never my strength...I think the last book I willingly read was a R.L. Stine Goosebumps book.

Still, I was pretty sure that was the correct usage of "an"...when can/can't "an" be used then Professor Penny Lane?

Shouldn't it be: an R.L. Stine Goosebumps book?
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic
Post by: Crispy on Feb 25, 2010, 04:20 PM
Quote"a historic?"

Also: it irritates the hell out of me when people say "historical." All you need is "historic."
Does anyone else like to say, "Let's stop at that hysterical marker up ahead," when driving down the highway?

vespa:  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: TheBigChicken on Feb 25, 2010, 04:20 PM
Quote
Quote
Quote
QuoteI thought "an" is only used when the first letter of the word that follows begins with a vowel?  :-?

No, Capt. Maybe you collaborated w/your friends too much on your take home English exams.  ;) ;D  

English was never my strength...I think the last book I willingly read was a R.L. Stine Goosebumps book.

Still, I was pretty sure that was the correct usage of "an"...when can/can't "an" be used then Professor Penny Lane?

Shouldn't it be: an R.L. Stine Goosebumps book?
;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic
Post by: ALady on Feb 25, 2010, 04:25 PM
Quote
Quote"a historic?"

Also: it irritates the hell out of me when people say "historical." All you need is "historic."
Does anyone else like to say, "Let's stop at that hysterical marker up ahead," when driving down the highway?


Yes   ;D
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: dcdub on Feb 25, 2010, 08:04 PM
Yeah the rule is to use 'an' before vowels or vowel sounds like "R.L." or "hour" but who the hell says "istoric"? I think I would just punch someone straight in the mouth if I heard them say "istoric". I have a really hard time holding back when people say "umble" but I draw the line at "istoric", you're gonna get punched if you go there. >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: kydiddle on Feb 25, 2010, 08:43 PM
Me fail English? That's unpossible.
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: jones on Feb 25, 2010, 08:45 PM
Istorical.
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: Paulie_Walnuts on Feb 26, 2010, 06:53 AM
Do you have the problem in the US when people are spelling a word over the phone and say "haitch" for the letter H?

It should be pronounced "aitch" with a silent "h" shouldn't it?

It drives me fucking insane! Especially as my car license plate contains two H's in it. Every time I call up about a current insurance claim I have to say "aitch aitch" and invariably the guy on the other end repeats "haitch haitch."

It's one of those things over here that more and more people are saying "haitch" and I am becoming a minority!

>:( >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: Crispy on Feb 26, 2010, 10:37 AM
QuoteYeah the rule is to use 'an' before vowels or vowel sounds like "R.L." or "hour" but who the hell says "istoric"? I think I would just punch someone straight in the mouth if I heard them say "istoric". I have a really hard time holding back when people say "umble" but I draw the line at "istoric", you're gonna get punched if you go there. >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
What about "herb"? I guess I'm safe, because I do like to pronounce "herb" with the H sound so that it sounds like the name of the guy on WKRP.

I've never heard anybody say "umble"!

ALady: Nice!   :) :)
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic
Post by: Penny Lane on Feb 26, 2010, 10:44 AM
Quote"a historic?"

Also: it irritates the hell out of me when people say "historical." All you need is "historic."

i feel the same way about 'romantical'
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: Penny Lane on Feb 26, 2010, 10:46 AM
Quote
QuoteYeah the rule is to use 'an' before vowels or vowel sounds like "R.L." or "hour" but who the hell says "istoric"? I think I would just punch someone straight in the mouth if I heard them say "istoric". I have a really hard time holding back when people say "umble" but I draw the line at "istoric", you're gonna get punched if you go there. >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
What about "herb"? I guess I'm safe, because I do like to pronounce "herb" with the H sound so that it sounds like the name of the guy on WKRP.

I've never heard anybody say "umble"!

ALady: Nice!   :) :)

or when that group "Herbalizer" came out....no Americans could say it right but you sound like a tool going around, 'hey, have you heard the new Erbalizer song?'...
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: dcdub on Feb 26, 2010, 12:08 PM
I can go either way on herb. I say 'erb' myself. I think most Americans do as well. My stepdad is from New Zealand and I've been hearing him say 'herb' for years so it doesn't really bother me.
How about this one: aluminum or aluminium?
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: weeniebeenie on Feb 27, 2010, 05:06 AM
QuoteI can go either way on herb. I say 'erb' myself. I think most Americans do as well. My stepdad is from New Zealand and I've been hearing him say 'herb' for years so it doesn't really bother me.
How about this one: aluminum or aluminium?
I say Herb and a-loo-mini-yum.
Actually most of the time I say tin foil instead.;)
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: capt. scotty on Feb 27, 2010, 03:49 PM
QuoteYeah the rule is to use 'an' before vowels or vowel sounds like "R.L." or "hour" but who the hell says "istoric"? I think I would

RL sounds like a vowel?  :o
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: dcdub on Feb 27, 2010, 09:55 PM
Quote
QuoteYeah the rule is to use 'an' before vowels or vowel sounds like "R.L." or "hour" but who the hell says "istoric"? I think I would

RL sounds like a vowel?  :o

Yup. Say it out loud dude.
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: AMightyCaporal on Feb 28, 2010, 01:15 PM
Quote
Quote
QuoteYeah the rule is to use 'an' before vowels or vowel sounds like "R.L." or "hour" but who the hell says "istoric"? I think I would

RL sounds like a vowel?  :o

Yup. Say it out loud dude.

R= Arr or as the pirates say ARRRGGGGGHHHH
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: crazylove on Feb 28, 2010, 04:59 PM
The way I understand it, is that "Herb" is a name and "erb" is a type of spice used in cooking or something that a lot of you may use in other ways!
Title: Re: "A historic" or "AN historic"?
Post by: mjkoehler on Feb 28, 2010, 05:50 PM
I thought "Herb" was this guy.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/26/Herb_nerd_small.jpg)