Split: An vs A - And America vs the World
Posted: 24 Dec 2008, 18:38
all I got from that first link is that i still don't think that "an" should be allowed to proceed a word that starts with "h"
A Guild on Aman'Thul
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QFTMitra wrote:all I got from that first link is that i still don't think that "an" should be allowed to proceed a word that starts with "h"
Its an english thing :bMitra wrote:all I got from that first link is that i still don't think that "an" should be allowed to proceed a word that starts with "h"
You only bait me because you know I'm a sucker for this kind of discussion.Johnnyrico wrote:Its an english thing :bMitra wrote:all I got from that first link is that i still don't think that "an" should be allowed to proceed a word that starts with "h"
...but at the same time, the Right Hon. MacFadden himself would be well advised to fill out his tractor documents using the correct spelling and punctuation.MacGillicuddy MacFadden wrote:Ach! Yeh canny get oop and doon wi'aight a trachtor - bet lookily ay hae a trachtor! It's ainly a wee oon...
Well, I've had this argument with multiple people multiple times, and unlike most arguments, this is one I refuse to lose, due to one simple fact:Cartollomew wrote: 2) Herb.
Fuck you, Americans. Seriously.
I'm not kidding, they go around pronouncing it "erb". Nobody else does this. Why the hell?
Anyways, whatever. The rule of selecting language based on intended audience comes into play - your average Yank is going to read "herb" without the "h", so if you're writing for Americans, talking about how you "purchased an herbal remedy" is probably advisable.
If you are writing for an international or unspecified audience, dispense with the "an" in this case - people will snigger at you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Engli ... dified.svgWikipedia wrote:66% of the world's native English speakers are Americans.
Forget native English speakers - take into account all English speakers.Twitapedia wrote:The European Union is a supranational union composed of 27 member states. The combined total English speaking population is 229,850,000 including 61,850,000 native speakers and 168,000,000 non-native speakers,[13] and would be ranked 2rd if it were included.
Well, I'll do you a favor and not inject too much commentary into your "which dialect of Asian should I use when speaking to an Asian speaker of unkown origin" absurdity.Cartollomew wrote:*A vast majority of Asian people speak Mandarin Chinese; I wouldn't advocate using only thatlanguagedialect when addressing a general audience of Asian people.
*Forget native English speakers - take into account all English speakers.Twitapedia wrote:The European Union is a supranational union composed of 27 member states. The combined total English speaking population is 229,850,000 including 61,850,000 native speakers and 168,000,000 non-native speakers,[13] and would be ranked 2rd if it were included.
Either way it'll just come down to arguing over whose authority dictates dialect vs "official" language.
Also, vaguely related:
The imperial system. It's you guys, Myanmar and Liberia.
I think it's time to let that one go.
I went with the 3rd (3th?) option and just corrected the wiki article; my guess is that it was probably "3rd" at some point and someone changed the "3" to a "2", missing the additional required correction.Philondra wrote: I'll start prouncing "herb" with a non-silent "h" if you start using the term "2rd". Deal?
Don't do me any favours if it involves ignoring an argument.Philondra wrote: Well, I'll do you a favor and not inject too much commentary into your "which dialect of Asian should I use when speaking to an Asian speaker of unkown origin" absurdity.
It's harder to do than you think.Evilelmo wrote:after scrolling through walls of text...
from now on i will use "an" with conversations with cart instead of "a".
useful!