Can a have an A, men?

Dan Goodman dsgood at IPHOUSE.COM
Wed Feb 4 23:28:46 UTC 2009


Jocelyn Limpert wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jocelyn Limpert <jocelyn.limpert at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Can a have an A, men?
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I'm glad the "a/an" problem that our new president has was finally mentioned
> on this site. And, yes, it is like nails on a blackboard. I thought everyone
> (yes, everyone) learned the distinction early on in grammar school.

Just because everyone is _taught_ it in grammar school doesn't mean
everyone _learns_ it.  And of those who learn it, many would retain the
knowledge only as long as it was needed for school.

There are adults who don't understand the distinction between nonfiction
and fiction, don't understand the laws of probability, etc. -- but who
were taught these things.

Note:  I would say "grade school" or "elementary school" rather than
grade school.

--
Dan Goodman
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