Comments on: What the H? http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/ Cantankerous commentary on what we speak and why we speak it, from Bill Brohaugh Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:11:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: JennyLu aka Red http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/comment-page-1/#comment-4237 JennyLu aka Red Tue, 19 May 2009 03:05:47 +0000 http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/#comment-4237 Cute. A friend had a bar and grill in NY and the name was "Tam-Tom's" But when their sign showed up... you got it, "Tam-Pons" . Worse the sign showed up the week of Christmas and they didn't catch it until new years eve! Thought I'd share. Cute. A friend had a bar and grill in NY and the name was “Tam-Tom’s” But when their sign showed up… you got it, “Tam-Pons” . Worse the sign showed up the week of Christmas and they didn’t catch it until new years eve! Thought I’d share.

]]> By: Hanasu http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/comment-page-1/#comment-3501 Hanasu Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:13:31 +0000 http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/#comment-3501 Were, oh, were has the poor Brohaugh gone? I miss you! My words are starting to lose double senses!! Come back soon, pleez! Were, oh, were has the poor Brohaugh gone?

I miss you! My words are starting to lose double senses!! Come back soon, pleez!

]]> By: Bill Brohaugh http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/comment-page-1/#comment-3229 Bill Brohaugh Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:31:55 +0000 http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/#comment-3229 As the Cockney sailors don't say, "anhoy!" I prefer "a historical," though I don't throw an hissy fit if I hear otherwise. I'm amused by those who won't say "an history" but will say "an historical," though the first syllable of <i>history</i> is accented, while the same syllable tends to be swallowed in <i>historical</i>, with the second syllable accented, leading to an hint of silence in pronouncing the initial <i>H</i>. As for as a/an herb—depends on the herbalist you're talking to. I grew up with the silent <i>H</i> for the plant (and a non-silent one for my non-silent uncle Herb), though there was a movement to begin pronouncing it a while back. I haven't followed that debate, preferring to worry about swallowing the herbs (fresh oregano on pizza—<i>mmmmm</i>) and not the H's that begin them. And "an H." Though maybe for the sake of form-meeting-function, we should start calling the letter "haitch." As the Cockney sailors don’t say, “anhoy!”

I prefer “a historical,” though I don’t throw an hissy fit if I hear otherwise.

I’m amused by those who won’t say “an history” but will say “an historical,” though the first syllable of history is accented, while the same syllable tends to be swallowed in historical, with the second syllable accented, leading to an hint of silence in pronouncing the initial H.

As for as a/an herb—depends on the herbalist you’re talking to. I grew up with the silent H for the plant (and a non-silent one for my non-silent uncle Herb), though there was a movement to begin pronouncing it a while back. I haven’t followed that debate, preferring to worry about swallowing the herbs (fresh oregano on pizza—mmmmm) and not the H’s that begin them.

And “an H.” Though maybe for the sake of form-meeting-function, we should start calling the letter “haitch.”

]]> By: Linda Yezak http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/comment-page-1/#comment-3127 Linda Yezak Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:50:27 +0000 http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/#comment-3127 While we're on the subject of Hs, can you settle a disagreement? Is it "an historical" or "a historical"? It is "an honor," I believe, and "an herb" -- or is it "a herb"? Does it depend on whether the H is pronounced? And would that pronunciation be for the historical or current word? And is it "an H" or "a H"? (The second sounds inherently wrong.) While we’re on the subject of Hs, can you settle a disagreement? Is it “an historical” or “a historical”? It is “an honor,” I believe, and “an herb” — or is it “a herb”?

Does it depend on whether the H is pronounced? And would that pronunciation be for the historical or current word?

And is it “an H” or “a H”? (The second sounds inherently wrong.)

]]> By: Andra M. http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/comment-page-1/#comment-2689 Andra M. Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:06:28 +0000 http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/#comment-2689 Since you like to point out articles with grammatical problems, I thought you'd get a kick out of this: "Oakland cop shot by parolee taken off life support." ( http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090324/ap_on_re_us/police_shot_calif ) Since you like to point out articles with grammatical problems, I thought you’d get a kick out of this:

“Oakland cop shot by parolee taken off life support.” ( http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090324/ap_on_re_us/police_shot_calif )

]]> By: Andra M. http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/comment-page-1/#comment-2595 Andra M. Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:51:20 +0000 http://everythingyouknowaboutenglishiswrong.com/blog1/2009/03/17/what-the-h/#comment-2595 I think H is hiding with my apostrophes. I'm always losing those. Commas, though, they like me, so I end up with too many. I think H is hiding with my apostrophes. I’m always losing those. Commas, though, they like me, so I end up with too many.

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