Should the word "Historic" be preceded by "a" or "an"?

Question

I've always thought it was "a" due to my usual pronounciation, but I've recently noticed the word "an" used rather frequently. Which is it?

I understand the consonant/vowel rules, but what is currently confusing me is that in the cases I'm speaking of, the "H" is silent, thus making it a vowel sound.

Answer 1

The general rule is often mis-stated. "A" comes before a consonant SOUND, "an" before a vowel SOUND. Most of the time this will be the same as a word starting with a consonant or vowel respectively. But if the consonant is silent and only a vowel sound is heard -- as in "honor" (pronounced /on-er/) use "an; if the vowel written is pronounced with a consonant sound -- as many words beginning with "u" or eu" with the consonantal "y-" sound-- use "a" ("a useful idea", " a European").

But there is just a bit more to it in the case of h-words, and esecially "historic" or "historical". This is a case where people MAY pronounce the h yet use "an". Here's a bit of why.


First, the BASIC explanation why "an" may appear before a word beginning with /h/. Notice especially points # 3 (& 4) which may best explain many uses of "an historic(al)"

1) the initial /h/ IS not pronounced (as already noted)
*generally in "hours" hono(u)r"
*American English - "herb"
*some dialects "humble", "hotel"

2) history - that is, the /h/ USED to be silent:
there are a number of words whose initial /h/ was originally not pronounced, esp. those derived from (Old) French, which did not pronounce it (sometimes did not even spell it)
Some of these (examples listed in #1) STILL do not pronounce the /h/ in many or all English dialects. Others that have added a pronounced /h/ may still be treated as if they did not have it -- 'historic(al)' is perhaps the best example of this



BUT this is not enough -- those who say "an historic(al) event" (pronouncing the /h/) ALSO usually say "a history"!
So, there's one other very important factor, which is:

3) The syllable starting with /h/ LACKS an ACCENT
--Specifically, if the SECOND syllable is accented, the initial /h/ is WEAKER, perhaps only very slightly pronounced (It seems especially weak if the following vowel is formed in the front of the mouth -- a, i, e (as opposed to vowels made further back -- o, u)

So, if the first syllable HAS an accent (especially the MAIN accent of the word) it is preceded by "a" --thus we say "A HISTORY" (unless, of course, you're Cockney)

To get the sense of how this works, just try saying the word "historic" all by itself. You may notice that you scarcely pronounce the /h/. Even if you do, it may feel like it takes extra energy do so (whereas when you say "history" the 'energy' is already supplied by accenting the syllable)

[Some have said 'accented' or 'unaccented', but this is not quite correct. When the SECOND syllable is accented, the first syllable has the LEAST accent; if a LATER syllable has the primary accent the first syllable may still have a SECONDARY accent, and the 'rule' just described does not apply. Examples: 'hospitality' 'hippopotamus']

In fact, in expressions like "an historic..." many find that the inclusion of the /n/ can actually make the words easier to pronounce (though in that case the /h/ is usually only VERY slightly pronounced).

Other examples where "an" may be found (all of which have an accent on the second syllable): "an hereditary title" [vs. "a HERitage], "an habitual liar" [vs. "a HA-bit"], cf. "an hysterical child"

Now if you were to try some of these expressions in a search engine you would likely find that "an historic" and "an historical" are much more common (in proportion to "a historic" "a historical") than these other examples. That leads to the FINAL(?) factor that affects pronunciation.

4) HABIT! That is, we're USED to hearing it that way, and so it just seems right, even if it does not follow the "rules" we may generally us for such cases.

Thus, the reason 'historic' and 'historical' are far more likely to be preceded by "an" than other words that might "qualify" is that they are more COMMON words or expressions. People are used to hearing them this way. This is hardly unusual. In any language the LESS common a word is in everyday speech the MORE likely it is speakers apply the "general rules" to that word. Thus, irregular verbs in a language [forms of to be, come, go, sit, etc.] are COMMON words.

Answer 2

It depends on whether your region pronounces the word to begin with a consonant or a vowel. A historic development is correct in American English. The British would differ with us. An Honorable Man is correct in American English because like the brits we don't pronounce the H in this word. Use a dictionary if you are not sure of the pronunciation.

Answer 3

In your "additional details", you've twigged to the proper rule: the determining characteristic for "a" vs "an" is not whether a vowel or consonant follows, but whether a PHONETIC vowel or consonant follows. Thus, in writing, you would write "a historic", but in speaking, you would say "an historic".

Answer 4

Contrary to popular opinion, typically, you use "an" before a word beginning with a vowel, AND/OR before a word beginning with a silent letter followed by a vowel sound. Like:

an historic, or an horticulturist, or an honest, etc...

(Try saying "a honest" then say "an honest"; feel the difference?)

Answer 5

A is always used before a consonant. An is only acceptable before a vowel.

Answer 6

"historic" should be preceded by "a" as in, "a historic achievement". use "a" when the following word begins with a consonant sound(i.e.: a tree) and "an" when the following word begins with a vowel sound (i.e.: an elephant). be wary of silent letters

Answer 7

if it is silent then you do use 'an' not 'a'
ex: an honest mistake
you do not say "a honest mistake" because the 'h' is silent making the first sound in the word honest the 'o'
so really it depends on how the word is pronounced not spelled,
most people in the US do pronounce the 'h' in historic so it would be "a historic"

Answer 8

'A' always comes before a word with a consonant first letter and 'An' always comes before words that begin with vowels

Answer 9

In writing, should be "an". If verbal, use "a" if pronouncing the "h", use "an" if you pronounce historic with a silent "h" Usually when verbal, "an" kind of slides into "istoric" so at least the "h" is pretty close to silent.

Answer 10

Funny you should ask that -- I just heard a news person say "an historic" and thought it was so odd. We don't say something like, "an history book," so I don't know why using an would be appropriate.