My newest release is the anthology, Romance on Route 66, featuring four historical romances set during four different decades in four different towns along historic Route 66. It troubles me to hear the work referred to as an historical romance anthology when you should say a historical romance.
Although a typically precedes a consonant and an typically precedes a vowel, there is more to this rule. The a precedes a consonant sound, not simply a consonant. The an precedes a vowel sound, not simply a vowel. For instance, history begins with a consonant and the consonant is pronounced, so it’s a history or a historical document or a historian. But in some English speaking countries, the h is silent, which is why you may read an history. If you pronounce the h, use a not an.
Consider euphemism, eulogy, utility, or utopia. All are pronounced as if they begin with the consonant Y and must be preceded by a not an. Words beginning with a consonant but pronounced as a vowel sound include honor, honorable, and humble. Each should be preceded by the article an: an honor, an honorable man, an humble opinion.
Unless your name is Eliza Doolittle, humble takes an a, in my ‘umble opinion.
Good for you! I’ve been griping about this nonsense for years. Why should we be pronouncing words like the British did 300 years ago?
Thanks for the comments….
I have long believed this to be the case!…