"A" or "an" preceding "Hasbro?"

[Revdyer]

I just had occasion to write, in the Battlefields of Valhalla thread, "an Hasbro rule." At first I had written "a Hasbro rule" but that didn't look or sound right to me. What say you? I say "an hymn" and "an hour" and "an historical moment," but I know the usage is slipping away. Do you say, "a hour" or "a honorable mention" or are there still some "an" sounds before "h" and some not? What about 'asbro?

[AmishBurrito]

I am not an expert in english, but this is the rule to the best of my knowledge:

You say "An" when the next word begins with a vowel (or begins with a silent consonant followed by a vowel).

In Hour and Honorable the H is silent.
In Hymn and Historical, the H is not silent, therefore should be a, not an.

As far as I know, the H in Hasbro is not silent...


Edit: Many languages will modify certain "counter" words in order to keep a rhythmic sound when saying the words together. I am currently taking a Japanese class where this happens quite often.

[Nooblar]

I am trying to think of a general rule for when the "h" is silent, but I can't think of any set system. Ah, such is the English language. For the record, I say:

a Hasbro
a hymn
an hour
a historical
an honorable

[AmishBurrito]

Originally Posted by Nooblar

I am trying to think of a general rule for when the "h" is silent, but I can't think of any set system. Ah, such is the English language. For the record, I say:

a Hasbro
a hymn
an hour
a historical
an honorable

It gets really tricky with the word "herb", depending on where you are from.

[Revdyer]

Originally Posted by AmishBurrito

I am not an expert in english, but this is the rule to the best of my knowledge:

You say "An" when the next word begins with a vowel (or begins with a silent consonant followed by a vowel).

In Hour and Honorable the H is silent.
In Hymn and Historical, the H is not silent, therefore should be a, not an.

As far as I know, the H in Hasbro is not silent...


Edit: Many languages will modify certain "counter" words in order to keep a rhythmic sound when saying the words together. I am currently taking a Japanese class where this happens quite often.

The problem is that there is no agreement about when the "h" is silent. Is it silent in "honor" or "humble" or "Hasbro"? Maybe all the really knowledgeable people (of whom I am not one) say 'Asbro. Given some of their marketing decisions concerning 'EroScape, I can imagine it, "bro."

There are, also, the ambiguities. By convention "history" and it's variants have taken the "an." "A nunkel" became, about the time of Shakespeare "An uncle." (The same thing happened with "an apkin" becoming "a napkin." English is goofy...and I say that as a former English and Linguistics professor. Our language has not ceased it's lovely changes. So I, in a light spirit, ask the fun questions.

[Malechi]

Originally Posted by Revdyer

... Maybe all the really knowledgeable people (of whom I am not one) say 'Asbro. Given some of their marketing decisions concerning 'EroScape, I can imagine it, "bro." ...

Only those with a Cockney accent Rev ...

[AmishBurrito]

Originally Posted by Revdyer

The problem is that there is no agreement about when the "h" is silent. Is it silent in "honor" or "humble" or "Hasbro"? Maybe all the really knowledgeable people (of whom I am not one) say 'Asbro. Given some of their marketing decisions concerning 'EroScape, I can imagine it, "bro."

There are, also, the ambiguities. By convention "history" and it's variants have taken the "an." "A nunkel" became, about the time of Shakespeare "An uncle." (The same thing happened with "an apkin" becoming "a napkin." English is goofy...and I say that as a former English and Linguistics professor. Our language has not ceased it's lovely changes. So I, in a light spirit, ask the fun questions.

Well, at least we are not French, constantly trying to decide if we should pronounce the last half of each word or not...

[hextr1p]

Originally Posted by AmishBurrito

As far as I know, the H in Hasbro is not silent...

Unless you're in a seedy English pub in the middle ages. In which case, the patrons of said pub will have you know that the 'H' in Hasbro is indeed silent.

"Oy! The 'H' is soilent, it 'tis! 'Ere, allows me to use it 'tin a sentence for yas: 'Ello, love! I works fer 'Asbro, I does. Didja see thaht? Clearly soilent, it 'tis!"

:P

Okay, back to work with me...

[Revdyer]

This is 'orendous!

[Shades fan]

Originally Posted by Revdyer

This is 'orendous!

Bloody 'ell this,is a 'ard one to figure out!

[Revdyer]

I think we should all agree that the initial "h" in "Hasbro" is silent (like that in "hour" or "honor"). From now on, it is 'Asbro!

[bad_calvin]

I right enjoy messing 'eroscape from 'asbro, it 'as ter be the bloomin' Mae West game ever. It makes me 'appy, and I like ter hang out wiv uvver 'appy 'eroscape players.