A European or An EuropeanWhich is correct? • a hotel or an hotel • a historian or an historian • a European not an European The form an for the indefinite article is used before a spoken vowel sound regardless of how the written word is spelt. If you say an otel when speaking (which is now often regarded as distinctly old-fashioned), then it may be appropriate for you to write an hotel. But most people say hotel with a sounded h and should write a hotel. By contrast, words such as Honour, heir or hour in which the h sound is dropped are written with an. Americans who drop the h in herb may also prefer to write an herb. But in standard British pronunciation the h is sounded and a herb is therefore correct in writing. Because European is said with an initial y sound which counts as a consonantal sound in English speech, It is said (and written) with a not an. An abbreviation such as M.P. which is pronounced em pea begins with a spoken vowel and so it is an M.P. Related Links: • How do I know when to put An Apostrophe in it's? • Is it an hour or a hour? • It is raining. Can this sentence stand alone as grammatically correct? • Is the word Data singular or plural? • Is the word Agenda singular or plural? • Is it acceptable to use THEY instead of HE or SHE? • Should I use A Singular or A Plural Verb with Collective Nouns? • Should I write : A Number of People is or A Number of People are? • What are the Plurals of octopus, hippopotamus and syllabus? • What is a Split Infinitive and why should I avoid using one? • The Word for The Whole that is Greater than the sum of the parts is ... • When should I use LESS and when should I use FEWER? • Which is correct : a European not an European? • Which is correct in this sentence : Lay or Lie? • Which is correct: My Friend and Me or my friend and I? • Which is the correct spelling : Oriented or Orientated? From A European or An European to HOME PAGE | ||||||||
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