"an herbicide" or "a herbicide"

[herbivorie]

In American English, the "h" sound in "herbicide" is dropped.
Does that mean the article before "herbicide" should be "an", not "a" in American English?

 

[MikeNewYork]

In AmE, the "h" in "herb" is dropped, almost universally. It is different with "herbicide" and your name "herbivore". That varies among Americans. But the article rule applies Those who pronounce the "h" use "a"; those who do not pronounce use "an".

 

[emsr2d2]

In BrE, the "h" is not dropped except in a few words like hour, honour, honest.

A herb is something you put in your food.
A herbicide is something you put on weeds to kill them.

The Americans I know drop the "h" and use "an".

 

[Matthew Wai]

A herb is something you put in your food.

A herb can also be used in medicine. Chinese herbal medicines are common in my nation.

Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

An AmE, we normally drop the "h" in "herbal"

 

[emsr2d2]

A herb can also be used in medicine. Chinese herbal medicines are common in my nation.

Not a teacher.

Yes, there are various uses for herbs - I work in a health food store and we sell stacks of herbal remedies. I was simply giving an example sentence with "a herb" rather than "an (h)erb".

 

[herbivorie]

Thank you.

It is different with "herbicide" and your name "herbivore".

(My name is "herbivorie", not "herbivore".) I intentionally put "i" in it.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I assumed it was a diminutive form: a person who eats small plants. ;-)

 

[herbivorie]

That's cute! Rie is a woman's name in Japanese and that's what I meant though.