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[Breakdown16]

Originally Posted by Sh4d0wD3v1L

According to everything I've learned, if the first sound of the word after the article is a vowel (hour, for instance) or, the first letter /is/ a vowel (apple, owl, etc) then you use "an".

Otherwise, go w/ "a"

Actually, I believe it's always based on the sound. For example, which one of the following sounds better?

An UFO
A UFO

The second choice is correct because the first syllable is prounounced "you." That's a consonant sound, not a vowel sound.

Also...

Originally Posted by heyitsmee

someone solve me the mystery of using

a / an

i have no clue i go with the one that sounds the best

also

saw / seen

good thread i need to read it again

Saw is the past tense. Example: I saw a red car yesterday. Seen is used as a participle. Example: I had seen a yellow car a few years ago with the same license as the red car.

I know, I'm not very good at explaining, but I'm trying my best.

[Squeek]

It is indeed based on sound. There's no better way to explain it.

A universal health plan.
An understatement.

Same first letter, different sound.

The same goes for what some silly folks do with the letter "h"

A historic event.
An honest answer.

It's not "an historic", but let the people who feel like old english is still the standard live their lives the way they want. They'll die out soon enough anyway.

[Master TAnK Evans]

what always made me think "WTF" is how things are spelt sometimes..for example I'm going to state a list of words and you tell me what you think about it and ask yourself ...why?

Rude Crude Dude Lude
mood brood shrood food

so why is it that food isn't spelt fude?
brood isn't spelt brude, mood isn't spelt mude, and shrood isn't spelt shrude.

now can anyone answer this question seriously?

Your answers could either be very annoying or very interesting...have a nice day


^_^

Master TAnK Evans

[Squeek]

There is no "lude". It's spelled "lewd".

There is no "shrood". It's spelled "shrewd".

And "spelt" isn't a word either.

Answering this question is like trying to answer the question of why a chair is a chair, a pencil is a pencil, and a house is a house. There isn't any one real answer I can give. Just roll with it.

[Master TAnK Evans]

Shrood

Shrood\, v. t. [Cf. Shroud.] [Written also shroud, and shrowd.] To trim; to lop. [Prov. Eng.]

and lude is basically the short form of a drug (qualude but i can't blame you for not getting that one for you are too young I'm betting...its probably not even suppose to be written on the forums BUT its not like I'm promoting the bloody pills anyways because drugs suck ^_^ as for spelt ...well ya got me lol Have a nice day

Master TAnK Evans

[Master TAnK Evans]

AH your a MOD well then nevermind about the too young then heh

[Squeek]

Staff status has nothing to do with age.

My age is right there in my profile.

Graduating from my University this year.

'Shrood' is not in Firefox's spell-check, nor is it a positive result on Google. It even lacks an Answers.com definition link.

All of your words were examples of the 'oo' sound. They're obviously going to be 'oo' words. 'Shroud' is not an 'oo' word.

[GuidoHunter]

Uh, Squeek, "spelt" is very much a word. It's the BrE version of the past tense of "spell".

Same with spilled/spilt and a great number of other verbs.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[Jaito]

well i fer 1 think that this is a good idea 4 them noob grammer spelling erorr making peepz who dont know what they r doing



PS - I am being very sarcastic, do not judge my grammar. I can't spell, but hell if I can't make a sentence look very neat and organized!

[Squeek]

Originally Posted by GuidoHunter

Uh, Squeek, "spelt" is very much a word. It's the BrE version of the past tense of "spell".

Same with spilled/spilt and a great number of other verbs.

Not according to Firefox.

[Ozie-Saf]

Unless what my English teachers taught me, the books I've read and all my dictionaries are wrong, "spelt" is definitely the most commonly used spelling of the past tense of "spell" in Great Britain and Australia.

[Squeek]

I'd wager to say 95% of the members of this forum are American.

So unless you're from Europe or Australia, you really shouldn't be using their convention of spelling. You don't see Americans writing 'colour'. Just because it's not "wrong" doesn't mean it's "right".

[Master TAnK Evans]

I am Canadian thus i will spell colour like this and it's the proper Canadian way to spell it ^_^ I know Americans drop U's I'm pretty sure "Color" isn't the only word they drop the U in...ey squeek what are other words that drop the U in America, at the top of my head i just can't seem to think of any at the moment


Master TAnK Evans

[Breakdown16]

Flavour vs. flavor, for one. And humour/humor is another.

[Squeek]

Almost every word with 'or' with the 'err' pronunciation.

color, flavor, favor, favorite, humor, etc.

[Master TAnK Evans]

ah yes a remember a few. Some are new I don't really spend a lot of time talking to people over the internet. In fact i just started to write in forums recently.
Well thanks for the info and have a nice day squeek ^_^


Master TAnK Evans

[rzr]

Originally Posted by Master TAnK Evans

Ah, yes, a remember a few. Some are new. I don't really spend a lot of time talking to people over the internet. In fact, I just started to write in forums recently.
Well, thanks for the info and have a nice day, Squeek. ^_^


Master TAnK Evans

I've decided I'm going to correct the improper grammar and spelling in this thread. Well, to the extent that I know. I don't want to appear like a giant ass hole in other threads, so I don't do it unless the person's being cocky.

P.S. I fixed it for you.

[stretchypanda]

Originally Posted by rzr

I've decided I'm going to correct the improper grammar and spelling in this thread. Well, to the extent that I know. I don't want to appear like a giant ass hole in other threads, so I don't do it unless the person's being cocky.

P.S. I fixed it for you.

That's not what this thread is for. Don't be a dick.

[sumzup]

I would think the main reason why spelling varies so much in English is that English is derived from many other languages. Depending on various influences (Germanic, Romantic, etc.) and the language's evolution over time, English words invariably do not follow a logical pattern when one looks for a general trend.

[rzr]

Well, Stretchy, I would do it elsewhere (as previously stated) but that's where I would really come across as a dick. I'm not going to point out the grammar mistakes of the people that are asking for help, only the ones that get it and in their gratitude still incorrectly use it.