I googled it, but didn't find any definitive answers. Is it "a hierarchy" or "an hierarchy"? I've heard the word spoken both with the H and without. Thanks!
Heirarchy: A or An?
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The simplified rules for pronunciation of the first articles are "a" if a consonant sound follows, and "an" if a vowel sound follows.
So if you pronounce hierarchy as Webster suggests, HIRE-are-key, then it's "a hierarchy."
I suppose where people might pronounce it IRE-are-key, they would say "an hierarchy."
So if you pronounce hierarchy as Webster suggests, HIRE-are-key, then it's "a hierarchy."
I suppose where people might pronounce it IRE-are-key, they would say "an hierarchy."
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I believe that you use 'an' only if there is a vowel (a, e, i, o and u.... But you know that), and h is not a vowel.... But I am no grammar expert like some people on the forums
(Sorry if this is a late post. I started earlier, but left and forgot to finish)
(Sorry if this is a late post. I started earlier, but left and forgot to finish)
Close, Moos. Your abbreviated rule works in most cases, but the real rule makes the distinction that it's the sound that counts:
http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/3431/?spage=&letter=
For instance, we usually say "She will arrive in an hour," even though "h" is a consanant. It begins with a vowel "ow" sound. On the the other hand, we say "On his t-shirt was painted a one." Even though spelled with an initial vowel, it has a consanant "w" sound.
There have been wars fought over whether the 'h' in history is or should be pronounced (from what I hear it seems to be pronounced in the US), and thus whether an article immediately preceding it should be 'a' or 'an.' The word hierarchy appears to be in the same class.
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I've always gone with 'a', it feels right when you say the word. I've also never heard of a silent 'h' in hierarchy, but I suppose it would depend on your accent? But I think you're supposed to pronounce the 'h' (at least, I think so) and so it's 'a hierarchy' for me.
nconner
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It used to be that you used an before an aspirated (pronounced) h IF the first syllable of the h- word wasn't accented. That's why you'll hear some people say "It was an historical day" but "I've written a history of the world." His-TOR-i-cal stresses the second syllable, wheras HIS-tor-y stresses the first.
So if you followed that practice, you'd say "a hierarchy" but "an hierarchical arrangement."
But that practice is passing away, I think, and the rule that's already been mentioned (a for the aspirated h and an for the silent h) is the one to follow.
Here's what Fowler's says:
Nancy Holzner
So if you followed that practice, you'd say "a hierarchy" but "an hierarchical arrangement."
But that practice is passing away, I think, and the rule that's already been mentioned (a for the aspirated h and an for the silent h) is the one to follow.
Here's what Fowler's says:
Nancy Holzner
What matters is not how we pronounce our words, but how the reader is going to pronounce our words, thus the rules should be in place universally...
Excellent comment for a benefit of universal spelling.
Too bad more of us don't write for readers rather than to pride ourselves on "breaking" rules as some sort of personal victory.
I like this one. It seems to jive with the uses I've heard. Thanks to everybody who chipped in!
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You are mistaken. The use of "an" before historical is quite recent among people who do not drop their "h"'s. It is extremely rare to find that neology in printed material that is more than forty years old.