“an/a institution”
Today I read a tweet from a respected British journalist which stated:
"an flawed institution".
To my ear this is wrong and should be "a flawed institution"
Albeit, I appreciate you can say "an institution". So why (if I am correct and they are wrong) does this change an > a occur.
Could somebody clear this up and give a reason as to why each is right/wrong.
Thanks in advance.
grammar articles
asked Mar 29 at 19:18
user342087user342087
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Today I read a tweet from a respected British journalist which stated:
"an flawed institution".
To my ear this is wrong and should be "a flawed institution"
Albeit, I appreciate you can say "an institution". So why (if I am correct and they are wrong) does this change an > a occur.
Could somebody clear this up and give a reason as to why each is right/wrong.
Thanks in advance.
grammar articles
asked Mar 29 at 19:18
user342087user342087
1
New contributor
user342087 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
5
It's a typo. Even respected journalists make them. Probably more frequently in tweets than elsewhere.
– Juhasz
Mar 29 at 19:21
3
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
– Benjamin Harman
Mar 29 at 20:51
It should be noted that some British accents exchange starting vowel sounds for consonant sounds, or vice-versa, for certain words. I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
3
Possible duplicate of When should I use "a" vs "an"?
– Laurel
2 days ago
Hot Licks - "I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question." It might not be "out of the question", but no British people ever do it.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
add a comment |
Today I read a tweet from a respected British journalist which stated:
"an flawed institution".
To my ear this is wrong and should be "a flawed institution"
Albeit, I appreciate you can say "an institution". So why (if I am correct and they are wrong) does this change an > a occur.
Could somebody clear this up and give a reason as to why each is right/wrong.
Thanks in advance.
grammar articles
asked Mar 29 at 19:18
user342087user342087
1
New contributor
user342087 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Today I read a tweet from a respected British journalist which stated:
"an flawed institution".
To my ear this is wrong and should be "a flawed institution"
Albeit, I appreciate you can say "an institution". So why (if I am correct and they are wrong) does this change an > a occur.
Could somebody clear this up and give a reason as to why each is right/wrong.
Thanks in advance.
grammar articles
grammar articles
asked Mar 29 at 19:18
user342087user342087
1
New contributor
user342087 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Mar 29 at 19:18
user342087user342087
1
New contributor
user342087 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Mar 29 at 19:18
user342087user342087
1
New contributor
user342087 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Mar 29 at 19:18
user342087user342087
1
asked Mar 29 at 19:18
user342087user342087
1
1
New contributor
user342087 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
user342087 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
user342087 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
5
It's a typo. Even respected journalists make them. Probably more frequently in tweets than elsewhere.
– Juhasz
Mar 29 at 19:21
3
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
– Benjamin Harman
Mar 29 at 20:51
It should be noted that some British accents exchange starting vowel sounds for consonant sounds, or vice-versa, for certain words. I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
3
Possible duplicate of When should I use "a" vs "an"?
– Laurel
2 days ago
Hot Licks - "I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question." It might not be "out of the question", but no British people ever do it.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
add a comment |
5
It's a typo. Even respected journalists make them. Probably more frequently in tweets than elsewhere.
– Juhasz
Mar 29 at 19:21
3
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
– Benjamin Harman
Mar 29 at 20:51
It should be noted that some British accents exchange starting vowel sounds for consonant sounds, or vice-versa, for certain words. I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
3
Possible duplicate of When should I use "a" vs "an"?
– Laurel
2 days ago
Hot Licks - "I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question." It might not be "out of the question", but no British people ever do it.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
5
5
It's a typo. Even respected journalists make them. Probably more frequently in tweets than elsewhere.
– Juhasz
Mar 29 at 19:21
It's a typo. Even respected journalists make them. Probably more frequently in tweets than elsewhere.
– Juhasz
Mar 29 at 19:21
3
3
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
– Benjamin Harman
Mar 29 at 20:51
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
– Benjamin Harman
Mar 29 at 20:51
It should be noted that some British accents exchange starting vowel sounds for consonant sounds, or vice-versa, for certain words. I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
It should be noted that some British accents exchange starting vowel sounds for consonant sounds, or vice-versa, for certain words. I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
3
3
Possible duplicate of When should I use "a" vs "an"?
– Laurel
2 days ago
Possible duplicate of When should I use "a" vs "an"?
– Laurel
2 days ago
Hot Licks - "I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question." It might not be "out of the question", but no British people ever do it.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
Hot Licks - "I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question." It might not be "out of the question", but no British people ever do it.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
add a comment |
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In a comment, Benjamin Hartman wrote:
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
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In a comment, Benjamin Hartman wrote:
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
add a comment |
In a comment, Benjamin Hartman wrote:
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
add a comment |
In a comment, Benjamin Hartman wrote:
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
In a comment, Benjamin Hartman wrote:
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
answered 2 days ago
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tchrist
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5
It's a typo. Even respected journalists make them. Probably more frequently in tweets than elsewhere.
– Juhasz
Mar 29 at 19:21
3
It's a typo. It's possible that the author originally wrote "an institution" and then inserted "flawed," forgetting to change the "an" to "a." It's also possible that the author originally used a different adjective that started with a vowel sound and then later changed it to "flawed" but forgetting to change the article from "an" to "a." A lot of things are possible. Whatever the case, you're right that it should be "a," not "an."
– Benjamin Harman
Mar 29 at 20:51
It should be noted that some British accents exchange starting vowel sounds for consonant sounds, or vice-versa, for certain words. I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
3
Possible duplicate of When should I use "a" vs "an"?
– Laurel
2 days ago
Hot Licks - "I don't know that there's any such sound swapping for "flawed" (or any other word starting with "f"), but it's not out of the question." It might not be "out of the question", but no British people ever do it.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago