WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Grammar Minute: Why "an hour" but not "a hotel?"

Episode Date: April 23, 2024

It's strange--but easy. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we're saving the English language 60 seconds at a time. I'm Lauren Smith, and here's a question you've probably never thought about, but definitely should. Why do we, at least in the U.S., say an hour, but not an hotel? You might have learned the rule that A goes before consonants, like A cat, and Anne goes before vowels, like an adorable cat. This is right most of the time, but like many rules in English, it's not always right. A modified version of the rule is actually much closer to the truth. A goes before anything that sounds like a consonant, as in A-Hotel, and Anne goes before anything that sounds like a vowel, such as an hour.

You might need some persuading that hour sounds like it starts with a vowel, but remember that if you are spelling it phonetically, you'd probably write O-W-R. That's your Grammar Minute. Visit Thegrammerminut.com for more tips and tricks.