Grammar Police!

[HSMndLKfan92]

I need your help.
So, I'm writing a paper for history.

James M. Grimwood was a historian for NASA during the early 1960s.
James M. Grimwood was an historian for NASA during the early 1960s.

Which one's correct?

 

[imabrat]

A historian.

 

[andy.b]

Yup, it's A Historian.

 

[PigletGurl]

A historian.

Say An historian out loud. Sounds kinda weird doesn't it?

 

[imabrat]

A historian.

Say An historian out loud. Sounds kinda weird doesn't it?

that's what i always do.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

A historian.

Say An historian out loud. Sounds kinda weird doesn't it?

I wasn't entirely sure, even with that.
Thanks everyone!

 

[PirateSnowmen]

If I'm not mistaken, you use 'an' if it's in front of a word beginning with a vowel. You use 'a' if it's used in front of a word beginning with a consonant.

Just for future reference

 

[meeshheartsdisney217]

^^^ is correct with that rule. but in addition if the first sound of the word is the sound of a vowel you have to use an.

example: the world "hour" doesn't have an H sound it has an O sound so you say AN hour not A hour.

basically the grammar police is my middle name.

 

[Sparx]

a.

an is only used for vowels or vowel sounds. such as an umbrella, an RN (arrr-n)

 

[~Serenity~]

A is for words that start with a consonants, An is for words that start with a vowel.

That is how I remember.

 

[Axel]

The rule is where the stress in the word lies.

For example:

A history of the U.S.
An historian of note.

I've always used this rule, expecially for words like honour, hour, hysterical, and hospitable.

 

[HouseMD1120]

An is for words that start with vowels
A is for words that start with consonants.

 

[mecllap]

An historian

 

[bananda]

both are correct. it just depends on pronunciation