"...an historical investigation of..."

[Mehrgan]

Hi,

In 'Unforgotten', the TV series, there are many cases when 'an historical' is used by different characters. Is there any reason for this?

 

[Skrej]

Those who use 'an historic' are over-applying the case of words beginning with a silent 'h' such as 'hour' or 'honor', where the initial sound is a vowel and does require 'an'.

However, since most variants of English pronounce the 'h' in 'historic' as a consonant, 'a historic' is the more correct current usage. Of course, if your variant drops the 'h', then continue with 'an historic'.

 

[5jj]

The h was silent, or nearly silent, only when the first syllable of the noun is unstressed. Thus people who did this said an historical novel but a history book.

 

[SoothingDave]

The h was silent, or nearly silent, only when the first syllable of the noun is unstressed. Thus people who did this said an historical novel but a history book.

Exactly this. I would say "an historic day," but "a history class."