Page:The practice of typography; correct composition; a treatise on spelling, abbreviations, the compounding and division of words, the proper use of figures and nummerals by De Vinne, Theodore Low, 1828-1914.djvu/27

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When to use a or an

13

THE DIGRAPHS OR DIPHTHONGS

The digraphs (or diphthongs, as they are commonly called) æ and œ are not in as much favor as they have been for the true rendering of Latin and Greek words and their derivatives. Aeneid, Aeschylus, Caesar,^[1] Oedipus, mediaeval, etc., are so written now by many classical scholars. In early English names like Ælfred and Cædmon, and in French words like manœuvre, the digraph should be retained.

A OR AN

It is a good general rule to use an before a word beginning with a vowel sound, or in which the initial h is silent, and to use a before a word beginning with a consonant or a consonant sound, or with a vowel preceded by a strong aspirate. The few exceptions cannot be classified.

a eulogy
a European
a ewe
a ewer
a heroic
a historical
an adder
an heir, -loom
a hope
a horse
a hospital^[2]
a hotel^[2]
a humble
a oneness
an herb, -al
an honest
a unanimous
a uniform
a union
a universal
a useful
a usurper
an honor, -able
an hour, -glass

↑ The Latin races discard the diphthong in names and words derived from Latin or Greek. Caesar in French is César.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 These are American methods. There are English authors of eminence who write an hotel, an hospital, an hydraulic.

[1] The Latin races discard the diphthong in names and words derived from Latin or Greek. Caesar in French is César.

[p13-2] 2.0 ^2.1 These are American methods. There are English authors of eminence who write an hotel, an hospital, an hydraulic.

[1]

[2]