Clearly, you use "a" in front of words not having a vowel sound in the beginning. A train, a pie. An is used in words such as An apple, an hour.

However.. The word "historic" has it's H pronounced. Despite this, An historic is considered correct, I've learnt. Why is that?

Both usages are considered correct. Some regional accents don't have a hard "H" at the beggining, so the word sometimes sounds as if it starts with a vowel.

Not according to Purdue University. Well at least not in general. It depends how the word "historic" is being used and how it sounds.


Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word. So...

* a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
* an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan
* a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used); a university; a unicycle
* In some cases where "h" is pronounced, such as "historical," us an:

An historical event is worth recording.

In writing, "a historical event" is more commonly used.

Remember that this rule also applies when you use acronyms:
Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP) handles first-year writing at the University. Therefore, an ICaP memo generally discusses issues concerning English 106 instructors.
In writing, "a historical event" is more commonly used.

Remember that this rule also applies when you use acronyms:
Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP) handles first-year writing at the University. Therefore, an ICaP memo generally discusses issues concerning English 106 instructors.

Another case where this rule applies is when acronyms start with consonant letters but have vowel sounds:
An MSDS (material safety data sheet) was used to record the data. An SPCC plan (Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures plan) will help us prepare for the worst.

If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article:

* a broken egg
* an unusual problem
* a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)

So in other words, I should just stick to "a historic" seeing how I pronounce it with a hard H?

I've never said "an" historic.

"A historic event" is not the same as saying " an historical event"

One is more specific than the other. It depends how the word "historic" is being used. "An historic even" isn't really saying anything.

Yes, one of those 'exception to rule' policies you have to just understand. At the level we are here at TFS, either is fully acceptable.

Being from yorkshire, I barley ever pronounce my Aitches.

So "A 'istoric event." would sound wrong.
So I say "An 'istoric event."
But posher accent would be able to, because the say "Historic". And they also pronounce "A" as "AY".

Not that that made any sense.

Well ok, are we talking conversational English or Academic writing?

Academical writing, from my point of view.. In an essay, should I opt for A or An?

Try this: Look at the word after 'historic'. Then use the rules for that word, ignoring 'historic' altogether!

'A historic moment', because 'a moment' would be correct.
'An historic interlude' because 'an interlude' would be correct.

Yours is a historic post, and mine is an historic answer!

(from Fatman's anachronistic cornbread grammar!)