Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms shock

Apropos of not much at all - and in the very best tradition of thread drift. When I was 16 to 17 I had a day job at Lyons tearooms in Windsor High Street. I took home about 19/- (less about 2 bob Stamp because it was a 9-hour day) . That was enough to keep my Lambretta in petrol for the week, and entrance fee to the Ricky-Tick with a few pints of beer - easier times .

I really resented the couple of bob that the government took out of the pay, but when my UK pension came through I had a couple of years more than I calculated, which I could only assume was because of that 9-hour day job.

Which convention? ‘An hotel’ has largely been superseded by ‘a hotel’, but I would say "a history book" but "an historic event."
Guess it’s your choice. 😊

Ah the Lyons tearooms. When I was about ten, my parents took me to the Lyons Corner House on the junction of Coventry Street and Rupert Street in Piccadilly. Memorable experience for a sub-teen, probably enhanced by those cute Nippies.

I thought the 'an' business was because we used to pronounce hotel without an aspirated H, more like the French pronunciation?

I don't believe it was ever a convention to use an before a naturally aspirated h was it? We would never say things like "I'd like to buy an Harp", or "Here comes an horde of Vikings" but you're right, there does seem to be a common exception in the specific case of an historic event.

That would be an honourable exception then.....

It's mainly down to pronunciation of the word. If one is in the habit of dropping the 'h' then 'an' works in speech.

A hotel, or an 'otel
A historic event or an 'istoric event

The main exception is the word 'hour' which always has a silent 'h'.

Similarly with the letter 'M' which we pronounce with an vowel sound. So you'd have 'a' Master of Art degree, but also 'an' M.A.

I empathise with anyone trying to learn English

You use the article "a" before words that start with a consonant sound and "an" before words that start with a vowel sound. For example, He has a unique point of view on the subject and talked about it for an hour. The "u" in "unique" makes the "Y" sound—a consonant sound—therefore you use "a" as your article, while the "h" in "hour" sounds like it starts with "ow"—a vowel sound.


I don't know how that sits with regional accents as "Here comes a horde of Vikings" could well be pronounced " 'ere comes an 'orde of Vikings"

The convention is it's an if the following word begins with a vowel sound and does not have the stress on its first syllable. It's a if the first syllable is stressed.

e.g. a hospital, a history book; an hotel, an historic event.

It's vowel sound that matters, not spelling, so for instance it's never an university. Whether "hotel" qualifies is debatable, I see that Grammarly objects to "an hotel".

Always remembering there is a difference between the conventions of grammar and good English usage.

Wait ‘til you get to Welsh.....
Different alphabet, mutations ( not the people, just letters based on context, unlike Norfolk ). Regional variations often from village to village. ( Think Lancs v Yorks).
Grandad is Tadcu in south but Taid in North. My grandchildren invented Dats for me. I am unique, after all!

Goood grief! I've stirred up an 'ornet's nest! Thank you Ian for your always perfect answer.