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Comment by billyjobob | Hacker News Reader

Is 'An History' in the title some sort of meme joke like 'An Hero' [1] or does the author not know basic grammar?

[1] http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/an-hero

No it's not a joke and yes it's valid grammar. If you're going to correct someone's grammar, at least know what you're talking about.

https://www.quora.com/Which-one-is-correct-a-history-or-an-h...

Hmm, if anything that link seems to imply it's invalid - plus it's Quora, not exactly a high quality reference.

The rule is "an" is used in front of a word that starts with a vowel sound[1]. "An hour" is correct because the "h" is silent. All modern (native) English dialects pronounce the "h" in history, ergo "an history" is incorrect grammar.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_articles#Distinction_b...

"In British English, either is acceptable"

from the first sentence.

> Quora

> not a high quality reference

> proceeds to reference Wikipedia

What's your problem with Wikipedia?

none but I wouldn't call it a more reliable source than quora for something like this.

"In linguistics, elision or deletion is the omission of one or more sounds (such as a vowel, a consonant, or a whole syllable) in a word or phrase."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elision

Well, the grammar rule got a name. It doesn't say whether it applies to "a[n]" history" though.

critiquing grammar on the internet is generally a bad idea these days because:

1. typos

2. not everyone is a native anglophone. the web is global.

3. nobody is an actual grammar expert, including you.

4. avoiding actual discussion is obvious

3b. supposed authorities are in complete disagreement on fundamental points of grammar (eg. oxford/cambridge disagree on has/have in third person verb of possession; oxford is right historically, cambridge teach far more 2nd language speakers)

It's based on the vowel sound. The author may be someone who drops the h when they pronounce "historic". See: http://www.betterwritingskills.com/tip-w005.html

Author is probably French or something.

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