Words You Hate: In alphabetical order (game, discussion)

[Off_base]

Epitome.

It's a perfect example of overcomplicated ideas.

 

[TheLobster]

It's a perfect example of overcomplicated ideas.

You might even say it’s an…

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Facsimile


Just seems unoriginal.

 

[Off_base]

Historic.

For violating the rule that "a" is used before a word that starts with a consonant.

"An historic" is just wrong and triggering.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Historic.

For violating the rule that "a" is used before a word that starts with a consonant.

"An historic" is just wrong and triggering.

A is used before a consonant *sound*, so a university. Though generally only politicians and pretentious wazzocks say an 'istoric - or worse, an hôtel - so it's still annoying.

I'll nominate 'sexy', a word so meaningless that it isn't.

 

[Off_base]

A is used before a consonant *sound*, so a university. Though generally only politicians and pretentious wazzocks say an 'istoric - or worse, an hôtel - so it's still annoying.

I'll nominate 'sexy', a word so meaningless that it isn't.

An unusual
An ordinary.
So yes, there's exceptions to the consonant sound as well, but I blame historic for my anxiety.

The word is still 'sexy'.

 

[TheLobster]

An unusual
An ordinary.
So yes, there's exceptions to the consonant sound as well, but I blame historic for my anxiety.

These two aren't exceptions. They both start with a vowel sound.

As far as I know, the a/an is absolute. If it doesn't appear so, it might be that your preferred dialect pronounces things differently (e.g., a/an herb).

 

[Off_base]

These two aren't exceptions. They both start with a vowel sound.

As far as I know, the a/an is absolute. If it doesn't appear so, it might be that your preferred dialect pronounces things differently (e.g., a herb).

They're exceptions to the "A is used before consonant sounds" assertion that I was replying to.
It also matters if it's being used in singular or plural context.
Holy crap!
Can I change my word?

 

[TheLobster]

Okay, I'm confused now. Neither "unusual" nor "ordinary" start with a consonant sounds, and so, predictably, they take An rather than just A. How are they exceptions?

I feel like I'm being pedantic or slow, and probably both...

 

[YmaOHyd]

'Unusual' starts with an 'uh', 'ordinary' starts with an 'oh'. 'University' starts with a y-consonant sound. 'Historic' is one that's in the process of changing; both 'a historic building' and 'an historic building' are used regularly in writing, but 'a historic' is more common in spoken English, I believe. 'An' is only used before a silent 'h', like 'hour.'

The word remains sexy.

 

[Off_base]

These two aren't exceptions. They both start with a vowel sound.

As far as I know, the a/an is absolute. If it doesn't appear so, it might be that your preferred dialect pronounces things differently (e.g., a/an herb).

See "A is used before consonant 'sound', so A university" from above.

However, if starting with a vowel sound requires "an" target rather than "a", it would be:

An university.

The "h" in herb is silent, the "h" in historic is a hard h sound.

This is all I've got left to offer, and I'm changing my word to "help".

Sexy is the current word.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Historic.

I'll nominate 'sexy', a word so meaningless that it isn't.

The word is still 'sexy'.

So, we're just going to Subjugate I through R to the land of Nothingess?

 

[TheLobster]

However, if starting with a vowel sound requires "an" target rather than "a", it would be:

An university.

Ah, I see where the confusion arose then. Like @YmaOHyd above said, "university" does in fact start with a consonant sound.

 

[HordHolm]

See "A is used before consonant 'sound', so A university" from above.

However, if starting with a vowel sound requires "an" target rather than "a", it would be:

An university.

The "h" in herb is silent, the "h" in historic is a hard h sound.

This is all I've got left to offer, and I'm changing my word to "help".

Sexy is the current word.

The 'h' in herb isn't silent if you're British... (see the rather wonderful Eddie - as was - Izzard).

 

[Off_base]

Ah, I see where the confusion arose then. Like @YmaOHyd above said, "university" does in fact start with a consonant sound.

Yes, but historic does not follow the consonant sound rule.
This was my original complaint.

 

[Off_base]

"A euphemism", for example. Starts with a vowel but has a consonant sound.
An euphemism would be incorrect.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Ah, I see where the confusion arose then. Like @YmaOHyd above said, "university" does in fact start with a consonant sound.

And 'h' words get complicated because they inherit their pronunciations and thus articles from the parent language. Language is like a landslide -- it changes a little over time and then a lot all at once. The BBC's language guide from a hundred years ago says hospital is pronounced ospital, finance is finn-ants, pristine rhymes with wine, and respite is resp-it not res-pite. The move from unvoiced French aitches to voiced aitches in hospital, hotel, historic and several other words is still being figured out, because the language customs are still shifting.

The confusion with historic specifically is that the word can be pronounced either as historic or istoric. The voiced h is more common now, but that only affects speech not writing. The change in convention will lag behind.

Fun little BBC article about the roots of the leading H in English.

 

[Off_base]

I've only heard "an historic" quoted with a hard "h" sound.

The word might still be Sexy?

 

[YmaOHyd]

I've only heard "an historic" quoted with a hard "h" sound.

An hih-storic is incorrect. If the H is pronounced, it takes a as its article following the consonant-sound rule. An is only acceptable (and indeed always correct) if the H is silent.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary of English Usage:

A few words, such as historic and (especially in England) hotel, are in transition, and may be found with either a or an. You choose the article that best suits your own pronunciation.

Pronunciation determines the article, which is why either article is acceptable in writing. But take care, because a historic versus an historic will carry geographic, class and temporal connotations.

Oxford English Dictionary:

In standard modern English the norm is for the h to be pronounced in words like hotel and historical, and therefore the indefinite article a is used; however, the older form, with the silent h and the indefinite article an, is still encountered, especially among older speakers.

And from the AP Stylebook:

AP Style tip: Use "a" before consonant sounds: a historic event, a one-year term. Use "an" before vowel sounds: an honor, an NBA record.

The word is still subjugate.

 

[Off_base]

An hih-storic is incorrect. If the H is pronounced, it takes a as its article following the consonant-sound rule. An is only acceptable (and indeed always correct) if the H is silent.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary of English Usage:

Pronunciation determines the article, which is why either article is acceptable in writing. But take care, because a historic versus an historic will carry geographic, class and temporal connotations.

Oxford English Dictionary:

And from the AP Stylebook:

The word is still subjugate.

I knew there was something wrong with it. It causes involuntary eye twitching every time I hear it.

Subjugate

 

[YmaOHyd]

Turgid. Occasionally erotic writers will use the phrase 'turgid member' to describe an erect penis and it's the least sexy combination of words on earth. I would find it less distracting if the writer just called it a ding-dong. And yet 'member' is okay, so 'turgid' must be the problem. Fuck off, turgid! If you're not being used to describe a river or other body of flowing water, I don't want to hear from you.

 

[Areala-chan]

'Turgid' just comes too close to 'turd' for me to take it seriously as anything except a legal term. "Yes, your Honor, the genitals were depicted in a discernably turgid state, rendering the photograph obscene under the state's definition."

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Unwieldy



We don't see 'wieldy' used in any similar context, do we?

 

[YmaOHyd]

'Turgid' just comes too close to 'turd' for me to take it seriously as anything except a legal term. "Yes, your Honor, the genitals were depicted in a discernably turgid state, rendering the photograph obscene under the state's definition."

It makes me think of this guy

 

[Britva415]

Facsimile


Just seems unoriginal.

So... like... a copy of something?