OT: Speaking of the Grammar Police....

Have a firm talk with your spell checker--in most instances, "an" goes before words beginning with a vowel, for reasons of smooth pronunciation, as you point out. "U" is an exception when it has its long sound--a union, a ukelele, (a unicorn, as you said) but uses "an" when it has its short sound--an uncle, an unkindness--again, because of the pronunciation. Dawne

You're remembering backwards. Not to worry. A common problem as we age. When preceeding words that start with a vowel, "an" is used. An orange is colorful. An elmwood chair is sturdy. A printed cloth.

By the way: spellcheck shouldn't be flagging "an" or "a". Do you mean a grammar checker?

Dianne

Isn't "an honor/honour to meet someone" (since the "H" is silent) another exception?

-- Carey in MA

Oh yes, that one too - there are always lots of excptions! The "Hotel" was really an exception to the exceptions in a way, some people making it silent, some not! ;-) Both are permissable ( but of course you don`t say an `orse, or an `ospital in polite language - unless you`re a Cockney!)

Pat P

Pat P

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OK -- I was beginning to wonder. In my original post, I think I got screwed up and said I was taught to use "A" with words beginning with a vowel but I knew -- or at last *thought* I knew that it was "AN". ())%(&$(*^ Spell Checker -- LOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Yep -- LOL -- I call all of it the spell checker because it's all done at the same time :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Pat - don't you mean words beginning with a vowel use AN (with exception of 'u' at times) rather than A? Ya going batty you old GOW? :-))

Usually grammar checkers will flag these types of words to give you time to think it through and decide which one you wish to use. Anyway, that's the way mine works.

Dianne

Tia Mary wrote:

Pat was quoting MOI. I had posted that and I was wrong. I sat here saying AN elephant, AN apple, AN index, etc. and wrote that it should be an "A" before words that start with a vowel. VBS -- who knows where my brains have been lately -- LOL??? CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Tia Mary had some very interesting things to say about OT: Speaking of the Grammar Police....:

You're right, your spellchecker was written either by someone whose native language was not English or by an idiot. :-)

Most likely an idiot. Most people whose native language is not English are likely to get those odd nuances correct because they are taught the reasons for them, unlike many native speakers.

Elizabeth

*belly laugh* You ought to meet my husband, Elizabeth! His written English is endlessly amusing in the best of ways. Norwegian grammar rules with an English vocabulary.

An with words beginning with H when the H is unvoiced (an hour), but A when the H is voiced (a house). An herb, a herbaceous perennial. ;->

A unicorn because even though the initial letter is a vowel, it's sounded as a consonant--yew.

Sounds like Micro$oft!

Ah, now that brings up the silly way some of you folk pronounce a HERB! why do you do that? Logically, if you insist on pronouncing it `ERB you should pronounce Herbaceous with a silent "H" too! ;-))

Still, you say and spell "Ass" when you mean "Arse". LOL!

We had an interesting time sorting out Biscuits, Cookies and Scones when Carolyn was here! Also chips, crisps and fries!

Pat P

Who decided in their infinite wisdom to make Black Friday even worse this year by releasing their new Xbox 360 the same week as Thanksgiving! Heaven forbid their rabid fans be able to get the stupid machine before the most insane shopping weekend of the year!

Caryn