"a" Vs "an"

[Graeme]

I know the general rule is that if the following word starts with a vowel sound, then use "an", otherwise use "a".

 

My problem is when people disagree on whether the following word starts with a vowel sound. In particular, should it be "a herbal tea" or "an herbal tea"? I've found both on the Internet.

 

The issue seems to revolve around the pronunciation of the word "herbal". To me (as an Australian) the word is spoken as "her-ball", and "her" definitely doesn't start with a vowel sound. However, I have had indications that some other nations pronounce it as "er-ball", which does start with a vowel sound.

 

So...which is correct? A herbal tea, or an herbal tea, and how is it adjudicated?

[Timothy M.]

Well I pronounce it with a consonant H sound so to me 'a herbal tea' looks correct. But if you're dropping your Hs, then I guess it has to be an before herbal.

 

What does adjudicated mean?

[alishead]

Unfortunately, this then brings in the issue of international English spelling and grammar. The "rules" vary from country to country, so it would, in this particular case, depend on the location of the person (or character) using the phrase.

[Carlos Hazday]

An herbal tea for me, please.

 

Although I admit if I saw it written the other way I'd automatically adjust the pronunciation of herbal in my mind.

[Graeme]

Well I pronounce it with a consonant H sound so to me 'a herbal tea' looks correct. But if you're dropping your Hs, then I guess it has to be an before herbal.

 

What does adjudicated mean?

 

Adjudicated means how do you decide which to use? And on that subject...

 

Unfortunately, this then brings in the issue of international English spelling and grammar. The "rules" vary from country to country, so it would, in this particular case, depend on the location of the person (or character) using the phrase.

 

Thank you. Since the person in question is Australian, I'll go with the Australian pronunciation (unless my editor objects strenuously).

[Kitt]

The only thing I can add is that my English teacher back in highschool was fussy on this one. She insisted that the pronunciation did not matter - any word beginning with an H got "an".

[Ron]

So...which is correct? A herbal tea, or an herbal tea, and how is it adjudicated?

Of course both are correct. You only need the distinction of the background (where they grew up) of the person who is speaking to know which indefinite article to use. As a matter of point, the reader can draw reference from which is used to help identify where a character may come from. Especially if the author is purposely being vague, or is parceling out clues to a characters origins. I think the key is to be consistent with the character's other word usage. There are exceptions with word usage, as many people are world travelers and pick up a word here, a word there, and then incorporate them into their everyday vernacular. Though, again, the key is character consistency.

[Cia]

With any difference in the English language when it comes to spelling or grammar rules that vary based on common usage and pronunciation it all depends on where the story is set rather than the accepted format for the area the author is from/rules they learned. For instance,  in the US it is not all right to use alright... but in UK stories, that is acceptable. The same goes for a and an. For me, I decided that I would use a set style guide and dictionary, and so I follow those rules. They happen to be the ones used by the publisher I tend to prefer submitting to, so that is the basis of my choices. I also don't set my stories in places I'm not familiar with outside the US, since I cringe when folks get things so wrong because they're from another country and don't know better.

 

Basically, what it call comes down to, when there's a judgment call like this on stylistic choices, consistency is key.

[Drew Espinosa]

With any difference in the English language when it comes to spelling or grammar rules that vary based on common usage and pronunciation it all depends on where the story is set rather than the accepted format for the area the author is from/rules they learned. For instance,  in the US it is not all right to use alright... but in UK stories, that is acceptable. 

That is a difficult thing for me to remember. I was taught to use "alright" back in elementary school, so when I see it as "all right" I involuntary think "typo"

 

As for "an herbal" vs "a herbal" I can't add anything else that hasn't already been said.

[MikeL]

.

I know the general rule is that if the following word starts with a vowel sound, then use "an", otherwise use "a".

 

So...which is correct? A herbal tea, or an herbal tea, and how is it adjudicated?

 

It is the sound of the first letter which determines the choice of a or an.  Brits, and other Anglophiles, say "herb", pronouncing the h; Americans treat the h as silent, pronouncing the word as "erb", the American pronunciation being more like the French.

 

Americans drink tea, herbal or otherwise, much less frequently than the British.  I never drink tea for medical reasons.  The tannin causes the muscles in by back to spasm.  You could say tea gives me a pain in the neck.

 

Watch, too, for words beginning with vowels that have a consonant sound.  They should be preceded by a.  The letter "u", for example, may be pronounced as "uh", a vowel sound, or as "you", a consonant sound.  For example, I graduated from a university, not an university. Again, it is the sound of the first letter which determines the choice of a or an.

 

Enjoy the language.  There's plenty to go around.

 

The only thing I can add is that my English teacher back in highschool was fussy on this one. She insisted that the pronunciation did not matter - any word beginning with an H got "an".

 

So, next time I go to the barber shop, I will ask for an haircut?  I don't think so.

Edited June 14, 2015 by MikeL

[Timothy M.]

.

Watch, too, for words beginning with vowels that have a consonant sound.  They should be preceded by an.  The letter "u", for example, may be pronounced as "uh", a vowel sound, or as "you", a consonant sound.  For example, I graduated from a university, not an university. Again, it is the sound of the first letter which determines the choice of a or an.

 

you mean They should be preceded by an a. right?

 

I've been taught the pronounciation rule too, So

An hour - A hero

An umpire - A university

Edited June 14, 2015 by Timothy M.

[MikeL]

you mean They should be preceded by an a. right?

 

You are absolutely correct, Timothy.  I've fixed my error.  Perhaps that's an example of why an author shouldn't edit his own work.

 

At the risk of another error, I would add a thought.  "A" and "an" are really the same indefinite article.  "An" adds a consonant sound...the "n"...to the article "a", eliminating the otherwise awkward pronunciation of two adjacent vowels.

 

Again, it's the sound of the noun following the article that matters.  Just sound out the article and noun and you will get it correct almost every time.

[Kitt]

.

 

 

 

So, next time I go to the barber shop, I will ask for an haircut?  I don't think so.

I didn't say it was correct - I said it was what she insisted on in our work. She also felt that site was a bastardization of sight and marked down for it. Of course that was before widespread computer use so you just didn't go to a website.

[Timothy M.]

Again, it's the sound of the noun following the article that matters.  Just sound out the article and noun and you will get it correct almost every time.

 

Well, I'm glad to have this confirmed, since then I don't have to change my stubborn ways.

[Former Member]

That is a difficult thing for me to remember. I was taught to use "alright" back in elementary school, so when I see it as "all right" I involuntary think "typo"

Your old teacher did you a real disservice - but if you want to use the interloper term, at least look at this page for some guidance  

 

http://grammarist.com/usage/all-right-alright/

Well, I'm glad to have this confirmed, since then I don't have to change my stubborn ways.

Always 'an honor' to think of Tim coming to care for new ways    

[Graeme]

Again, it's the sound of the noun following the article that matters.  Just sound out the article and noun and you will get it correct almost every time.

 

And my problem is the 'almost every time' part In the example I gave, different people are sounding out the noun in different ways, with differing results. If the text I wanted to use was in dialogue, I wouldn't have a problem -- it would be based on the characters speech patterns and how they pronounce the words. But what if it was in narration, which doesn't have an 'official' voice? I think alishead's advice (based it on where the story is set) is the best advice in that case, but even that is fraught with problems when you have a story set where adjoining areas with different pronunciations.

 

In my case, not only is the story set in Australia, but the narration in question represents the internal thoughts of one of the characters, so I'm happy that "a herbal tea" is correct...for me, in this particular case

 

I'm not an editor, so I'm curious if there any other grammatical rules that are based on pronunciation?

[Cia]

I don't know of any off the top of my head other than the rising use of possessive 's for words that end in s, primarily because the extra s sound is vocalized. Which just annoys the crap out of me, to be honest.

[MikeL]

Me, too, Cia.

 

It's also interesting to read news stories every year about the latest edition of a dictionary and the new, ungrammatical words that have "snuck" in there.

Edited June 15, 2015 by MikeL

[Thorn Wilde]

Consistency is key. In narrative, stick to the same 'language' all the time. In dialogue, go by what your character would say, not necessarily what is 'correct'. 

 

I write in British English. I would write 'a herb' in narrative, but if I had an American character speaking in dialogue I would write 'an herb', because that's what that character would say. I would also write 'mobile phone' in my narrative, but if an American character were to speak about said device, I would write 'cell phone'. Because that's what he'd say. 

 

So, basically, follow the rules of the version of English in which you are writing. 

 

The only thing I can add is that my English teacher back in highschool was fussy on this one. She insisted that the pronunciation did not matter - any word beginning with an H got "an".

 

I'm guessing she wasn't exactly young? In older literary works you'll often find examples of that. 'An history', for instance. 

[Kitt]

Consistency is key. In narrative, stick to the same 'language' all the time. In dialogue, go by what your character would say, not necessarily what is 'correct'. 

 

I write in British English. I would write 'a herb' in narrative, but if I had an American character speaking in dialogue I would write 'an herb', because that's what that character would say. I would also write 'mobile phone' in my narrative, but if an American character were to speak about said device, I would write 'cell phone'. Because that's what he'd say. 

 

So, basically, follow the rules of the version of English in which you are writing. 

 

 

I'm guessing she wasn't exactly young? In older literary works you'll often find examples of that. 'An history', for instance. 

She did retire at the end of that year, so yes - she was a bit "old school" so to speak. She had many quirks that I now find interesting to say the least.

[Zombie]

I don't know of any off the top of my head other than the rising use of possessive 's for words that end in s, primarily because the extra s sound is vocalized. Which just annoys the crap out of me, to be honest.

 

this article gives good practical guidance 

 

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/possessives.htm

[MikeL]

One solution might be to add another adjective: a nice herbal tea, a soothing herbal tea, an artisan herbal tea, etc...whatever reasonable adjectives apply.  I wouldn't know.  At least that would get around the fact that people pronounce herbal differently.  You wouldn't have anyone stumbling over something that seems awkward to them.  That could work even in the darkest corners of the English-speaking world.

[Graeme]

Thanks, Mike! That's a good idea. Along the same lines, if I make the tea a specific type, rather than the generic 'herbal tea', that will also eliminate the potential confusion.

[Timothy M.]

I don't know of any off the top of my head other than the rising use of possessive 's for words that end in s, primarily because the extra s sound is vocalized. Which just annoys the crap out of me, to be honest.

 

Are you saying that NOT adding the extra s is the correct way? So: Silas' heart, Chris' boyfriend and so on is correct and not just me refusing to add the s (Chris's boyfriend simply looks too weird to me) ?

 

I would also write 'mobile phone' in my narrative, but if an American character were to speak about said device, I would write 'cell phone'. Because that's what he'd say. 

 

damn, now I have to go back and correct that mistake in my prompt story.

[MikeL]

Are you saying that NOT adding the extra s is the correct way? So: Silas' heart, Chris' boyfriend and so on is correct and not just me refusing to add the s (Chris's boyfriend simply looks too weird to me) ?

 

 

damn, now I have to go back and correct that mistake in my prompt story.

 

Sorry, Tim.  I agree with Cia.  This "s's" thing is a result of educators' attempt to use phonetics as a teaching method for English.  It has limits which are being ignored by many.