Date: 2010-11-04 10:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kmousie.livejournal.com
It actually makes quite a lot of sense...I think [livejournal.com profile] crickets is planning on sharing the entry from Garner's Modern American Usage later on, but the distinction comes from whether the "h" is aspirated (pronounced). So "an hour," but "a hippopotamus" or "a historic moment."

Date: 2010-11-04 11:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gregoria44.livejournal.com
Yars, but I am from Engerland, where people often go all lemon-faced over the apparent need to say 'an' historic moment or 'an' hotel.

Pft. In this instance, life is too darned tootin' short.

Date: 2010-11-04 11:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kmousie.livejournal.com
Yes, indeed. I'm a fan of England, as you can see. :-) I suppose I should have clarified that my source discussed American usage. Out of curiosity, do you aspirate the h- sound in those words?

Date: 2010-11-04 11:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gregoria44.livejournal.com
If there's an H there, I'm sayin' it. To my ear, anything else sounds pretentious with a capital Q.

The way I look at it, if an article can't be bothered to be definite, I'm not going to let it decide how I pronounce stuff.

Date: 2010-11-04 11:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kmousie.livejournal.com
The way I look at it, if an article can't be bothered to be definite, I'm not going to let it decide how I pronounce stuff.

Love it.

If there's an H there, I'm sayin' it.

Eddie would approve!

Date: 2010-11-04 11:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gregoria44.livejournal.com
Ah, Royal approval! My work here is done ;D

Date: 2010-11-04 11:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kmousie.livejournal.com
Royally funny approval, perhaps. I meant Izzard. :-D Is there a royal named Eddie?

Date: 2010-11-04 11:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gregoria44.livejournal.com
I meant Mr. Izzard!!

(Let us not talk of Prince Edward here. One is an hanarchist.)

Date: 2010-11-04 11:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kmousie.livejournal.com
Excellent! One loves him. ♥

"And that's what happens when cousins marry."

"Oh, you're a plumber? What on earth is that?"

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