Parliament says "...an MP".

Both sound odd, but 'an MP' sounds a bit like the alphabet song....

Out of curiousity, what is the actual rule regarding "hotel?" I was taught that it should be "an hotel," but I know that is rarely used. I do hear it being used by people who drop the "h." Thus, "an 'otel." That would fit the other examples posters have given, where the a/an depends on the initial sound, not the initial letter.

I am sure that someone can come up with a witty comment in regards to the intellect of MP's in connection with the alphabet song ........

Lots of children find the middle of that song rather difficult. I once had a young student who asked for "The Lemon song." (L,M,N.......

This is one "h" you are supposed to drop. It's supposed to be pronounced "an 'otel" where even the "o" of "otel" is semi-swallowed.

At least that's what we were taught in school and our English teacher was one of those scary grammar sticklers we had before they started shipping in those "content is more important than correctness" band of English teachers.

emmenellop ! *starter's dyslexia*
Had a best friend called Penelope at the time, and with all the admiration of a 5 year old, I honestly thought the song was about her

I was at primary school with a Penelope, whom everyone called Penny. At the point where I saw her full name written down, it took a long time to convince me that it wasn't pronounced "penny-lope".

Back to the hotel example: of course in the South-East of England people say "an 'otel" anyway... but then they also say "an 'ouse" . I grew up saying "a hotel" because I was taught to talk proper .

Shouldn't this be in the "languages" part of the forum ?
It's a proper question.

Shouldn't this be in forum support or a mod report?

Same as My Bad, belongs to OT:

'My bad'

However odd it seems, the rulings for Language Corner are


Language corner (9 Viewing)
Questions and answers for learners of German, French and Italian, translation help

As this Thread is nothing to do with learning German, French or Italian, it is off-topic. It should probably have gone to www.englishforum.com or www.englishforums.com anyway.

Anyway......back on topic in Off Topic....now we have that sorted out.......anybody know the answer?

From an NESB ( Non English Speaking Background person ):

An FMCG consultant, an MP, a Hotel etc.

It's my afternoon off you know. I've been on the bike and am off to shower now but here's something to read.
http://www.english-for-students.com/European.html

Makes sense. But, I had not thought of "historian.' To me, "an historian" rolls off the tongue easier that "a historian." Is it an exception, or is it also dependent on how strongly the initial "h" is voiced?

Wow, now that's what I call dedication. Especially on your day off.

mmmmm I've never mod reported a thread to date, have you ?
Was Geneva nice ?

Sorry CC, I still don't have the answer, but..... google seems to support the sound of the consonant as a way of determining a or an.
I usually check out what the majority says by typing the word and seeing how many hits I get.
Try a university, versus an university etc.

Phonetically, a "university" starts with a "y" (yooniversity), which is a consonant and it therefore sounds correct to write "a university".

Phonetically, an "MP" starts with "e" (em pee) and would therefore need to be treated as a vowel and be written "an MP".

I find if you try to say "a MP" it kind of comes out stilted, like you would sound if you tried to say "a elephant".

I gave this link which seems quite reasonable to me with help on other questions too. http://www.english-for-students.com/European.html