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Is 'An History' in the title some sort of meme joke like 'An Hero' [1] or does the author not know basic grammar? [1] http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/an-hero htt

Is 'An History' in the title some sort of meme joke like 'An Hero' [1] or does the author not know basic grammar? [1] http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/an-hero http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/an-hero

n0us 10y ago
No it's not a joke and yes it's valid grammar. If you're going to correct someone's grammar, at least know what you're talking about. https://www.quora.com/Which-one-is-correct-a-history-or-an-history https://www.quora.com/Which-one-is-correct-a-history-or-an-h...
- Benjamin_Dobell 10y ago
  Hmm, if anything that link seems to imply it's invalid - plus it's Quora, not exactly a high quality reference. The rule is "an" is used in front of a word that starts with a vowel sound[1]. "An hour" is correct because the "h" is silent. All modern (native) English dialects pronounce the "h" in history, ergo "an history" is incorrect grammar. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_articles#Distinction_between_a_and_an https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_articles#Distinction_b...
  - n0us 10y ago
    "In British English, either is acceptable" from the first sentence. > Quora > not a high quality reference > proceeds to reference Wikipedia
    - Benjamin_Dobell 10y ago
      What's your problem with Wikipedia?
      - n0us 10y ago
        none but I wouldn't call it a more reliable source than quora for something like this.
  - user5994461 10y ago
    "In linguistics, elision or deletion is the omission of one or more sounds (such as a vowel, a consonant, or a whole syllable) in a word or phrase." Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elision https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elision Well, the grammar rule got a name. It doesn't say whether it applies to "a[n]" history" though.
patorjk 10y ago
It's based on the vowel sound. The author may be someone who drops the h when they pronounce "historic". See: http://www.betterwritingskills.com/tip-w005.html http://www.betterwritingskills.com/tip-w005.html
chillydawg 10y ago
Author is probably French or something.
beachstartup 10y ago
critiquing grammar on the internet is generally a bad idea these days because: 1. typos 2. not everyone is a native anglophone. the web is global. 3. nobody is an actual grammar expert, including you. 4. avoiding actual discussion is obvious
- contingencies 10y ago
  3b. supposed authorities are in complete disagreement on fundamental points of grammar (eg. oxford/cambridge disagree on has/have in third person verb of possession; oxford is right historically, cambridge teach far more 2nd language speakers)

Is 'An History' in the title some sort of meme joke like 'An Hero' [1] or does the author not know basic grammar? [1] http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/an-hero http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/an-hero

n0us 10y ago

No it's not a joke and yes it's valid grammar. If you're going to correct someone's grammar, at least know what you're talking about. https://www.quora.com/Which-one-is-correct-a-history-or-an-history https://www.quora.com/Which-one-is-correct-a-history-or-an-h...

Benjamin_Dobell 10y ago
Hmm, if anything that link seems to imply it's invalid - plus it's Quora, not exactly a high quality reference. The rule is "an" is used in front of a word that starts with a vowel sound[1]. "An hour" is correct because the "h" is silent. All modern (native) English dialects pronounce the "h" in history, ergo "an history" is incorrect grammar. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_articles#Distinction_between_a_and_an https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_articles#Distinction_b...
- n0us 10y ago
  "In British English, either is acceptable" from the first sentence. > Quora > not a high quality reference > proceeds to reference Wikipedia
  - Benjamin_Dobell 10y ago
    What's your problem with Wikipedia?
    - n0us 10y ago
      none but I wouldn't call it a more reliable source than quora for something like this.
- user5994461 10y ago
  "In linguistics, elision or deletion is the omission of one or more sounds (such as a vowel, a consonant, or a whole syllable) in a word or phrase." Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elision https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elision Well, the grammar rule got a name. It doesn't say whether it applies to "a[n]" history" though.

patorjk 10y ago

It's based on the vowel sound. The author may be someone who drops the h when they pronounce "historic". See: http://www.betterwritingskills.com/tip-w005.html http://www.betterwritingskills.com/tip-w005.html

chillydawg 10y ago

Author is probably French or something.

beachstartup 10y ago

critiquing grammar on the internet is generally a bad idea these days because: 1. typos 2. not everyone is a native anglophone. the web is global. 3. nobody is an actual grammar expert, including you. 4. avoiding actual discussion is obvious

contingencies 10y ago
3b. supposed authorities are in complete disagreement on fundamental points of grammar (eg. oxford/cambridge disagree on has/have in third person verb of possession; oxford is right historically, cambridge teach far more 2nd language speakers)