American English
Saturday, March 31st, 2007Everyone has pet peeves. One of mine is non-words, such as irregardless and reoccur. Another is American writers who can’t decide whether to spell in American or English.
If you’re British, you’re expected to spell color with a “u” (colour) or to use “an” before “historic.”
But please, please, please! If you’re an American writer, remember the rule: If a word begins with a consonant sound, use the a article; if it begins with a vowel sound, use an. That means a historic event, not an historic one.
In my neck of the woods, we pronounce the “h” in historical. I write contemporary romantic suspense. But if I wrote historicals, I’d be writing a historical, NOT an historical.
If you plan to travel in France and Germany, you are taking “a” European trip, not “an” European trip, even though European begins with a vowel. That one doesn’t seem to trip up most folks, unlike “historic.”
OK, I’ve vented. It’s only fair that you leave a comment with one or two of your pet peeves. Cheryl
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