Proper use of the word "an"?

Question

What's up with the word "an" being placed in front of H-words where the H is not silent? Why does everyone on TV say "an history?" If this is actually correct, why not say, "an house, an horse, an hotdog?"

And why was the Viggo Mortensen movie called "A" History of Violence?

I am not a language purist but consider myself well-spoken and this irritates me. Can anyone explain why this is so common these days?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Actually it's "a" history. Or "an" historic event; an ancient culture; an American revolution, or "an Open House".

but house, horse, etc.... no. For them, you use "a". People on TV say a lot of things wrong: they say "had went" instead of "gone" [had went is like saying "more better"... that's the way a 3 yr. old talks]. They say "goes" instead of "said", and "ax" instead of "ask".

"An" does NOT go with historical.  Although 'A History of Violence" IS correct.

Answer 2

maybe they say use "an" as a short way of saying "and" because they have an accent but really im not sure.

Answer 3

It all comes down to the history of the English language. Just like people on the East and West coast say things differently, it should come as no surprise that the language has evolved over time. In the past the H's in words like History or Heritage were not pronounced. Thus, they were given "an" as an article because they started with a vowel sound. Although pronunciation has changed, many people believe grammar is exact and shouldn't change from how it was a century ago. These are the same people that say you can't split an infinitive or end a sentence in a preposition. So people may use 'an history' out of habit, or to feel grammatically superior, but really either 'an' or 'a' would be correct. Basically just use your gut, and your instinct will probably be acceptable for the dialect in the area where you are from.  

Answer 4

wrong: an history

right: a history

yeah... you are right...  

Answer 5

I've never  heard anyone say "an history", but I think it's incorrect. It sounds bad, anyway. However, "an" goes with "historic" or "historical", such as "an historic event".

I think the rule is to use "a" if the first syllable of the "h" word is stressed, and "an" if it is not.  

Answer 6

According to English pronunciation rules (Did I just say 'rules'?!), we use 'a' before a word beginning with a consonant sound and 'an' before a word beginning with a vowel sound. As the word 'history' begins with the consonant sound /h/, then we should use 'a' and say 'a history'. Well, this is what we all know.

However, many people prefer to use 'an' before words that start with /h/ and that have three or more syllables, so this is also accepted as valid. 'Horse' only has one syllable, so it just follows the general rule ('a horse').

Another example is 'an hypothesis'. It's just the same case as 'a history'. Consider that the /h/ sound is so weak that sometimes people don't even pronounce it, as in 'what' and 'where'.

So both ways are correct, though 'a history' is better.

Answer 7

Not on all h.  An hour because the h is silent.  But horse or house no.  It's a then.

Answer 8

I think it's like French...where you only say the last consonent's sound when the next word begins with a vowel. They do this to make the language flow.

So, if you say the "h," then you use "a" (ex. A Hen)

If the "h" is silent, you use "an" (ex. an hour)

Think about the word "the" too. Sometimes you say "thuh" and other times you say "thee." That also has to do with the word that comes next! We just don't think about it and automatically do it!

Answer 9

One word: ignorance.

Answer 10

Don't get irritated, just feel smugly superior.

Answer 11

An is only used when preceding a word that begins with a vowel,

Answer 12

their saying In history not an history.. it just sound as though their saying an history