Road toll rises

**scarry** · 5th February 2020, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Tombie

As an end user, for many - comparing them it often doesn’t financially compute yet either.

A $20k ICE vs a $50k EV. $30K buys a lot of fuel etc.

Until manufacturers lower EV prices or raise ICE prices there won’t be the take up.

And to add,many buy second hand vehicles,never new,for whatever reason.

So it will be many more years until they filter down into the second hand market,and then IC may still be the better option,due to the life and costs of batteries,etc.

Interesting times.

DiscoMick · 5th February 2020, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by Saitch

Don't disregard 'Aitch', either i.e. 'An hour'.

True, but the a/an rule is based on the sound, not the spelling.
The 'h' is silent in 'hour' so it's pronounced 'our' and so it sounds like a vowel sound 'o' and so it's 'an'.
This is another example of why English grammar is stupid and drives international students nuts.

**Saitch** · 5th February 2020, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

True, but the a/an rule is based on the sound, not the spelling.
The 'h' is silent in 'hour' so it's pronounced 'our' and so it sounds like a vowel sound 'o' and so it's 'an'.
This is another example of why English grammar is stupid and drives international students nuts.

What about words such as 'Horizon' and 'Horrific'? I've always used 'An' with these.

As you say, the English language is somewhat complex.

**p38arover** · 5th February 2020, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

It's 'an' if the next word starts with a vowel sound - a, e, i, o, u - otherwise it's 'a'.
Jeep doesn't start with a vowel so it's 'a'.

You didn't read it proper! AM was referring to the spelling of Cadogan's name - I had an "e" before the "n", whereas it should have been an "a".

**p38arover** · 5th February 2020, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Saitch

What about words such as 'Horizon' and 'Horrific'? I've always used 'An' with these.

As you say, the English language is somewhat complex.

And hotel (where the "H" isn't pronounced, i.e., an 'otel)

**p38arover** · 5th February 2020, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

This is another example of why English grammar is stupid and drives international students nuts.

At least English doesn't have gender like French and other languages.

Besides, what's wrong with driving international students nuts? They can't drive cars.

**austastar** · 5th February 2020, 04:05 PM

Hi,
D.W.A.

Say no more!

(Driving while Asian)

Cheers

DiscoMick · 5th February 2020, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Saitch

What about words such as 'Horizon' and 'Horrific'? I've always used 'An' with these.

As you say, the English language is somewhat complex.

It's 'a horizon' and 'a horrific' unless you go all Cockney and drop the 'h'.

DiscoMick · 5th February 2020, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by p38arover

You didn't read it proper! AM was referring to the spelling of Cadogan's name - I had an "e" before the "n", whereas it should have been an "a".

Ah, sorry I didn't read it properly, thanks.

**p38arover** · 5th February 2020, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

It's 'a horizon' and 'a horrific' unless you go all Cockney and drop the 'h'.

Not for us old fogies.

Originally Posted by writing-skills

But fogies with a fondness for an can at least still count on The Times style guide (‘prefer an hotel to a hotel, an historic to a historic, an heroic rather than a heroic’). And Fowler’s Modern English Usage kindly acknowledges that ‘the choice of form remains open’.

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