This is a Journal entry by Nosebagbadger {Ace}
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
Nosebagbadger {Ace} Started conversation Mar 10, 2014
A question of utmost important, which has originated (at least for me) off the clearly work-focused volunteer skype thread (I'm going to take a wild plunge and assume I won't be punished for bring this across )
Is it "an" h2g2 smiley
or
"a" h2g2 smiley
I personally deliberately went for "a" h2g2 smiley, because there isn't a vowel following the "h", was this is reasonable decision?
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
Florida Sailor All is well with the world Posted Mar 11, 2014
A good question NBB, I think the answer is in the pronunciation of the letter 'H', may I refer you to a famous memoir by Sam Watkins. a Confederate soldier in the American Civil War - http://books.google.com/books/about/Co_Aytch.html?id=aQ5HAMrOWTUC
Even though the letter is not a vowel, its pronunciation is - In a phrase where the letter is named, rather than just starting a word, 'an' should always be used (imho), Because many British accents drop the 'H' it is common for 'an' to be used, in the US this is not commonly done - ' I did it in a hurry' or I done it in an 'urry' (the latter might just be Southern US usage)
Just my
F S
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
psychocandy-moderation team leader Posted Mar 11, 2014
I'm from the US - Chicago - and I would pronounce it "an" h2g2 smiley. Just stating my location in case regional differences come into play.
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
8584330 Posted Mar 11, 2014
h2g2's pronounced "aitch-two-gee-two" here in the Pacific Northwest, so yeah, definitely an h2g2 smiley.
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
You can call me TC Posted Mar 11, 2014
Putting aside the "h" question ("aitch" or "haitch"), I had to explain to a colleague recently why we say "an MBE" (I've forgotten what the abbreviation was now, but it started with an M.)
In fact many consonants, when you say them, start with a vowel sound (N, F, L, M, N, R, S, X). I've no idea which is correct, but I'm sure it's all right to use "an" before these letters. It looks odd, but you can't say "a MBE", "a NGO" or "a MP", so
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
Gnomon - time to move on Posted Mar 11, 2014
The name of the letter H is 'aitch', from the French 'ache', so it is definitely 'an h2g2 smiley'.
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
Nosebagbadger {Ace} Posted Mar 11, 2014
Surely you don't run off the "spelling" of the letter? Otherwise you could have to consider/pronounce a word by the individual "spelling" of each of its letters?
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
Gnomon - time to move on Posted Mar 11, 2014
English is a spoken language. You can't say "h2g2" as a word so you have to spell it out as "aitch-too-jee-too". Because this starts with a vowel sound, you put "an" before it rather than "a".
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
8584330 Posted Mar 11, 2014
Yes, if that is how the word or acronym's pronounced.
NATO is pronounced NAY-TOE
ASCII, AS-SKI.
NBC is pronounced EN-BEE-SEA
So it would be correct to say
an NBC sitcom
Think of this, nnb. Say whatever it is out loud, and wherever you hear a word or acronym or abbreviation starting with a vowel sound, then write "an". If the word or acronym or abbreviation starts with a consonant sound, use "a".
Writing should follow how language is spoken.
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
Nosebagbadger {Ace} Posted Mar 11, 2014
Well, non artificial languages, at least...though english is not always one for following that rule
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
Peanut Posted Mar 11, 2014
For me it is 'a' because it is 'h'
is in haitch two gee two,
a little h at that, even if it comes at the beginning of a sentence
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
Gnomon - time to move on Posted Mar 11, 2014
I thought it was only us Irish that said "haitch" for the letter H.
More examples of how you use the sound rather than what's written are:
a used car
an unused car
Used is pronounced "yoozd" so it starts with a consonant sound (y) and you use "a" with it.
Unused is pronounced "un-yoozd" so it starts with a vowel sound (u) and you used "an" with it.
unuused
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
Peanut Posted Mar 11, 2014
I think where the haitch comes in Gnomon is because we were always told to pick our 'hs' and 'ts' and stop putting 'rs' into places it doesn't belong
'You must say your haitches' Peanut and it turns out haitch doesn't have a 'h' in at all...
Key: Complain about this post
A"n" h2g2 Smiley
- 1: Nosebagbadger {Ace} (Mar 10, 2014)
- 2: Florida Sailor All is well with the world (Mar 11, 2014)
- 3: psychocandy-moderation team leader (Mar 11, 2014)
- 4: 8584330 (Mar 11, 2014)
- 5: You can call me TC (Mar 11, 2014)
- 6: Vip (Mar 11, 2014)
- 7: Gnomon - time to move on (Mar 11, 2014)
- 8: Nosebagbadger {Ace} (Mar 11, 2014)
- 9: Gnomon - time to move on (Mar 11, 2014)
- 10: Nosebagbadger {Ace} (Mar 11, 2014)
- 11: 8584330 (Mar 11, 2014)
- 12: Nosebagbadger {Ace} (Mar 11, 2014)
- 13: Peanut (Mar 11, 2014)
- 14: Gnomon - time to move on (Mar 11, 2014)
- 15: Peanut (Mar 11, 2014)
- 16: Peanut (Mar 11, 2014)
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