Why is it appropriate to say "an historic"?

Question

Example: " It was an historic day time"

Answer 1

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-anh1.htm

Answer 2

If it passes, then it's okay. The modern American English language has too many exceptions to have any rules.

For example, the letter "U" and indefinite articles (a, an)...

A uniform.
A unicorn.
An umbrella.

Although it's always a vowel, it depends on a hard vowel sound or not.

In conclusion, with an aspirated "H", the rule is probably not written, and we have to go with whatever sounds right.

Answer 3

Alright the definitive answer is maybe. It is about how you say the word. If you say for example erb it would be an erb if you say Herb it would be A Herb. It depends on whether you make the hhh sound at the beginning of the word. Technically it is known as an aspirated H if you hear the h.

Answer 4

Hm..I didn't think it was appropriate at all actually. "An" is used before a vowel SOUND not a vowel though, so for example "an honor" is appropriate as well. However, I'm pretty positive the H in Historic is spoken...not so sure.

Answer 5

It isn't. Only the ignorant, the British, and people who can't pronounce "h" say it that way. Here in America, we pronounce our "h" consonant sound at the beginning of "historic." The proper thing to say is "It was a historic day."

Answer 6

It comes from French, where 'h' sounds at the beginning of words are silent. In English, it is proper to say 'an' before any 'h' word.

An history
An hour.
etc.

Answer 7

I don't think it's proper at all because the "h" is actually emphasised in "historic", as opposed to the "h" in "an hour".