Here are some things that are on my mind this week:
Am I the only one who didn't realize that Missy Etheridge is shacking up with the mean chick from Popular? I mean, I'm not a major Etheridge fan (I don't dislike her at all, but I can't say I follow her life or career -- I just enjoy her songs when I hear them), but time was you couldn't go anywhere without tripping over a photo of her and her now-apparently-ex, Julie C. How could I have missed that they broke up, like, 7 years ago and there's a new Mrs. Missy in da house?
"Today was a historic first ...." Is it just me, or shouldn't this be "an historic first"? This says it should be "an", just like my elementary school teachers (and books) taught me, but to judge by most written material and spoken word, the editors of Cool Dictionary, this guy and I seem to be the only ones who know about that rule.
Is it 5 o'clock yet? 'Cause it totally feels like it should be 5:00.
Have a great weekend, little ones.
Posted by cynical at July 13, 2007 03:40 PMI'm afraid that's a losing battle you're fighting. You could always join me in trying to convince people that "cache" is pronounced "cash" rather than "cash-ay" and that "forte" is pronounced "fort" rather than "for-tay." Or that "principal" is the non-interest part of a loan or a school boss, while "principle" is a rule one lives by.
Shall I go on? ;)
Posted by: Linkmeister on July 18, 2007 03:27 AMI've heard "an historic," but I don't know that I could ever comfortably say it. I was brought up that "an" only comes before vowels.
And Linkmeister has a curious position. To my mind, anyway. I'm with you on "cash," but my musical background tells me it's "for-tay."
Principle/principal is one of the few conundrums that forces me to stop and pontificate before venturing forward. Or something.
Posted by: TJ on July 19, 2007 02:24 PMFreaking dictionary.com has bowed to the inevitable and allowed both pronunciations of forte. I disapprove, but I'm just one little guy out here on the intertubes.
T J, I agree with you about its pronunciation when referring to a musical passage. It's when it's used as a synonym for "specialty" that I maintain the "e" is silent.
Posted by: Linkmeister on July 19, 2007 08:21 PMHas anyone noticed that "human" used to be pronounced "Human" but is now mostly pronounced "Uman"?? I noticed this started happening about 10 or so years ago. A few of my close friends noticed it too....but our one friend who had a major in linguistics had no clue.
I think the same thing is happening with words like "historic." There is some new tendency to drop the H. Thus requiring the change in whether or not to use "an" or "a."
I guess it's all about being a cunning linguist....or something like that. (*wink!)
I think that "Uman" thing is regional, Marcie, but I agree that we seem to be hearing it more often in recent years. Another one I hear (mostly from New Yorkers, I think) is "yuge" instead of "huge". Argh!
With the "historic" thing, I just think "an historic" makes for a softer "h" sound but it seems to me it just flows better, whereas "a historic" requires an almost formal, stiff enunciation that strikes me as awkward.
I've been told I have a very *nice* stiff enunciation, thank you very much.
Posted by: TJ on July 20, 2007 05:02 PM