Everyone has pet peeves. One of mine is non-words, such as irregardless and reoccur. Another is American writers who can’t decide whether to spell in American or English.
If you’re British, you’re expected to spell color with a “u” (colour) or to use “an” before “historic.”
But please, please, please! If you’re an American writer, remember the rule: If a word begins with a consonant sound, use the a article; if it begins with a vowel sound, use an. That means a historic event, not an historic one.
In my neck of the woods, we pronounce the “h” in historical. I write contemporary romantic suspense. But if I wrote historicals, I’d be writing a historical, NOT an historical.
If you plan to travel in France and Germany, you are taking “a” European trip, not “an” European trip, even though European begins with a vowel. That one doesn’t seem to trip up most folks, unlike “historic.”
OK, I’ve vented. It’s only fair that you leave a comment with one or two of your pet peeves. Cheryl
Cheryl, I share the “an historical” pet peeve, but didn’t realize it was an American vs. British kind of thing. Here is my latest pet peeve, and it has been bothering me since the start of the Iraq war. The news media constantly refers to one solder as a troop. Five troops were killed today in Baghdad. A troop is a group or a unit of soldiers, not just one! But nearly every media venue says it that way. Grrrrr….
maddie
Leave it to the media. *LOL*
By the way, have you noticed how often you hear or read “Deja Vu All Over Again?” Seriously used! It’s a Dizzy Dean-ism and is meant to be comically redundant.
More GRRRRR…
Cheryl, The a/an issue is decided by pronounciation. An is correct when the beginning of any word “sounds like” a vowel. A is correct when the beginning of any word “sounds like” a consonant. Example: a European; an hour; a one and only, etc. The only “h’s” I drop are in front of “o’s” ie. an hour. I guess any mispronounciation that follows the above rules might be considered acceptable, but my pet peeve remains the American way of dropping the “h” in herb.
Regarding the troop issue. Troops refers to an armed force. The generic term “troops” is no doubt used because the reporter either doesn’t have access to information about which branch of service those killed were from or that listing 1 soldier, 1 sailor, 1 airman and 2 marines were killed would take too long.
Perhaps reoccur is a media word. Our local reporters often give late night reports live at the scene of something which happened earlier in the day, perhaps hoping it will reoccur.
Janet
Janet,
*LOL* Guilty! I’ve always pronounced “herb” without the h! Herb with the H is short for my friend Herbert’s name.
As for the a/an issue, we’re saying the same thing. It depends on pronunciation.
Thanks for blogging, my British friend!
Cheryl
Hey Cheryl, I made it to your new blog. Sweet.
I follow the ‘English’ rules. I’m Australian, but I married an Englishman and live in England, plus England is the motherland for all Australians anyway so I had little say in the matter anyway. Feels normal to me.
It is still surprising, though, how many small differences there are in language even between England and Australia, let alone England and America. Its very understandable how communication is so difficult between countries that dont both speak the same language if two countries who do speak the same language still have so many difficulties in understanding one another. Does that make sense?
It would be boring if we all spoke the same language and the same dialect though… it would take away the challenge of mastering grammar and all that jazz!
I’m
Kate,
I’m glad you made it here. Thanks for blogging with me. I love your Australian perspective! You are so right about the many differences.
Cheryl
I would like to vent on the way many are misusing the singular possessive forms. I recently graded (for grammar) a biology student’s paper that addressed St. Vitus’s Dance. I felt it imperative to correct the student as it was written “St. Vitus’ ” throughout the paper. There was only ONE St. Vitus to my knowledge for whom the malady was named. Then, tonight, I was watching David Letterman’s show that featured Don Rickles’s book. It is titled “Rickles’ Book” when it should more properly be “Rickles’s Book” as I’m sure there is only one Don Rickles, and for that, I am thankful. Why do people completely ignore the rules for forming possessives?
I’m with you! Several years ago I addressed this in an article, after having to research this for an editor. Perhaps I’ll dust it off and revisit it in a future blog post.
I wonder who is Don Rickles’s editor?
Cheryl
I keep juggling with british and american docs – yow! good info
Hi your post is amazing.
I like your site..
bye