Anonymous  +  963283 Fri, 06 Nov 09 10:24 AM I'm having a debate with a friend, our English teacher said that it was 'an' but apparently a grammar book my friend read said that it was definitely 'a' oh help me english forums in my hour of need Anonymous

	Ter  +  963324 Fri, 06 Nov 09 11:21 AM A history. I've never heard of "an history" before.. Ter Joined on Thu, May 24 2007 Junior Member 69

	Cool Breeze  +  963374 Fri, 06 Nov 09 12:32 PM A long time ago, in the 19th century, some people sometimes used an before some words that began with "h". I don't think such usage is possible in modern English. CB Cool Breeze Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006 Senior Member 3,968 "I hope you'll all live to be 150 years old - and the last voice you hear is mine!" Frank Sinatra on stage in Oslo, Norway, 28 September 1991 Usages

	CalifJim  +  963635 Fri, 06 Nov 09 07:34 PM Anonymous “I'm having a debate with a friend, our English teacher said that it was 'an' but apparently a grammar book my friend read said that it was definitely 'a' oh help me english forums in my hour of need ” The first syllable of history is stressed, so a is used.  However, some people still cling to an older style in which words like historic (first syllable not stressed) take an. a history.             (both older and newer styles) an historical novel.  (older style) a historical novel.    (newer style) CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,380 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Relationships, Friendships, Friends

	Yankee  +  963783 Fri, 06 Nov 09 10:43 PM CalifJim “However, some people still cling to an older style in which words like historic (first syllable not stressed) take an.” I'm one of those "clingers".  (A Klingon?)   But it's not actually something I do consciously. That's just the way I've always spoken. For a long time I didn't even realize I did it. An ESL student of mine once asked me why I'd just said "an historical event", and that's when I first realized that I actually used "an" with those sorts of H-words. I say "a history book", but "an historical novel".  It's only a very slight N, but there's an N sound there nonetheless. Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,491 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

	CalifJim  +  963793 Fri, 06 Nov 09 10:53 PM Yankee “I'm one of those "clingers".” Sometimes I am too.  I vacillate between the two.  On any given day I can't even guess whether an or a is going to come out before historical or hysterical.  Fortunately, I don't use either one very often.  CJ CalifJim