Weird Granny Slater
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,063
'This is a historic moment...'. Wrong.
'This is a histrionic moment'. Correct.
Reginald Barrington likes this
'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,056
'An histrionic' surely?
Pablo likes this
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
needs to be put in the tower of London [ stale bread and water only ]while the axe man sharpens his axe.
Weird Granny Slater- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,063
Captain Haddock wrote:'An histrionic' surely?
Wrong.
It depends on the
sound of the word, not the written form. So, if the initial 'h' is aspirated, then the indefinite article is 'a'; if not, then 'an'. So, 'a haddock', but 'an honourable councillor'.
'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,056
Hmmmmm. Yet
'An historic appears about a third as frequently as a historic, even in some normally well-edited publications—for example:
The very possibility of it marks an historic turning point for the entire region. [New Republic]
At least one of Lord Hutton’s recommendations will mark an historic departure. [Guardian]
And, from an historical perspective, Greece’s track record as a creditor is checkered. [Wall Street Journal]'[
On the other hand perhaps it really is 'an affectation' which is what you would expect from the likes of me anyway!
Back on topic - it looks like the EDL’s ‘national demonstration’ in Manchester had a great turn-out?
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Pablo- Registered: 21 Mar 2018
- Posts: 614
An hotel, I was taught at school. I think I once received chastisement for getting it wrong.
Weird Granny Slater- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,063
I suppose usage is determined as much by class, dialect and fashion as it is by rules. And history: Old English words aspirate the initial h, Romance (post-Norman invasion) words don't. Personally I'd view 'an hotel' as an affectation as, even though the word's of French origin, we pronounce its initial 'h' and that requires the 'a' before it.
But to keep this thread on track, I think we should ask Mr Robinson about it.
'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,870
Weird Granny Slater wrote:I suppose usage is determined as much by class, dialect and fashion as it is by rules. And history: Old English words aspirate the initial h, Romance (post-Norman invasion) words don't. Personally I'd view 'an hotel' as an affectation as, even though the word's of French origin, we pronounce its initial 'h' and that requires the 'a' before it.
But to keep this thread on track, I think we should ask Mr Robinson about it.
Oh! Must we, this grammar discussion is a lot more interesting.
I was taught 'an hotel' but as I am now grown up I use both versions depending on what I am typing about and who will see it.
Our grammar and spelling has changed so much since my schooldays with the growth of the internet and Americanisms etc, I now tend to type in more chatty way unless it is a formal document.
Judith Roberts likes this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
I use an a when its singular . ie. I booked a hotel room for 2 nights.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Large police presence outside the Old Bally where Tommy is due to be sentenced in about an hour from now.
Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,053
Was Ann Hathaway French, English or romantic then?
Reginald Barrington likes this
(Not my real name.)
ray hutstone- Registered: 1 Apr 2018
- Posts: 2,158
Where there's a will, Ann Hathaway.
Button- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,053
I've always thought that Samphire Hoe should've been named Hathaway Down.
(Not my real name.)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Tommy addressing his disciples earlier before handing out the loaves and fishes.
Weird Granny Slater- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,063
Button wrote:Was Ann Hathaway French, English or romantic then?
Ah, but Anne, being Stratford through and through, probably had a near-Brum accent, so would have dropped her aitches anyway.
Button and Jan Higgins like this
'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
if he's so guilty then why haven't they dealt with the charges? just a simple contempt of court isn't it?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Keith Bibby wrote:if he's so guilty then why haven't they dealt with the charges? just a simple contempt of court isn't it?
It was made clear in post 236, Stevie boy, as we know, told a German radio station that he would be issuing a statement just prior to his case with the aim of getting imprisoned so the money would roll in from simpletons who see him as a much maligned patriot.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Guest 2948- Registered: 26 Oct 2018
- Posts: 2
good, should have got 10 years.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
