# Grammar-an euphemism, a euphemism? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 14, 2007, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733 "2007-07-14T05:04:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/1 "2007-07-14T05:04:01Z")
“An” just sounds wrong, but is it an exception to the rule? ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/2 "2007-07-14T05:07:42Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] “An” just sounds wrong, but is it an exception to the rule? [/QUOTE] My vote: “A euphemism”; sure, it has an initial vowel and a consonant sound, but it’s got two vowels and a vowel sound. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/3 "2007-07-14T05:14:48Z")
It’s how it sounds, not the initial letter that counts. I stayed _an_ hour in _a_ hotel. A euphemisim sounds right to me. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/4 "2007-07-14T05:16:42Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] “An” just sounds wrong, but is it an exception to the rule? [/QUOTE] It’s “a euphemism.” “euphemism” starts with a vowel but _phoenetically_ it’s a dipthong that sounds like a consonant y. That makes the phonetic purpose of adding an n to the indefinite article unnecessary. The proper use of a/an is determined by the phonetics, not necessarily the spelling. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/5 "2007-07-14T05:19:40Z")
[QUOTE=DesertDog] It’s how it sounds, not the initial letter that counts. [/QUOTE] A much more concise way of putting than I did. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/6 "2007-07-14T05:35:11Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] It’s “a euphemism.” “euphemism” starts with a vowel but _phoenetically_ it’s a dipthong that sounds like a consonant y. That makes the phonetic purpose of adding an n to the indefinite article unnecessary. The proper use of a/an is determined by the phonetics, not necessarily the spelling. [/QUOTE] Linguistics nitpick: the “y” sound isn’t a dipthong, it’s a semivowel/glide. These are usually classified as consonants. Hence, “a euphemism.” ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9fc29f/32.png) [@I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_Ron_Burgundy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/7 "2007-07-14T05:35:15Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] It’s “a euphemism.” “euphemism” starts with a vowel but _phoenetically_ it’s a dipthong that sounds like a consonant y. That makes the phonetic purpose of adding an n to the indefinite article unnecessary. The proper use of a/an is determined by the phonetics, not necessarily the spelling. [/QUOTE] Phonetically, the yod is a semivowel, not a diphthong. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/8 "2007-07-14T05:39:38Z")
Ok, it’s a semi-vowel, not a dipthong. Thanks for the correction. My point was that it’s phonetically a consonant, not a vowel. ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9fc29f/32.png) [@I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_Ron_Burgundy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/9 "2007-07-14T05:58:03Z")
Yeah! Watch out or Sattua and I might simulpost again! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/10 "2007-07-14T07:13:35Z")
Either is OK, since both are understandable and both are in common usage. Other than those two “rules” there are no “official” rules for American English Grammar. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/11 "2007-07-14T07:33:28Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Either is OK, since both are understandable and both are in common usage. Other than those two “rules” there are no “official” rules for American English Grammar. [/QUOTE] Is “an euphemism” a regional thing? I’ve never heard it. Do people who say it say “an union” and “an youth,” too? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/12 "2007-07-14T07:47:56Z")
Google sez: \*Results 1 - 10 of about 43,400 for “an euphemism”. Results 1 - 10 of about 956,000 for “a euphemism”\* 40,000+ is common enough, although clearly “a euphemism” is the more common. It’s what I’d say, but I wouldn’t blue pencil anyone for writing “an euphemism”, either. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/13 "2007-07-14T07:58:48Z")
[QUOTE=DesertDog] I stayed _an_ hour in _a_ hotel. [/QUOTE] What kind of hotel was this, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/14 "2007-07-14T10:34:55Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] …I wouldn’t blue pencil anyone for writing “an euphemism”, either. [/QUOTE] I would. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/15 "2007-07-14T12:29:57Z")
Thank you all for your answers. I had no idea that was the rule. Learn something new everyday… ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/16 "2007-07-14T14:40:58Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Google sez: \*Results 1 - 10 of about 43,400 for “an euphemism”. Results 1 - 10 of about 956,000 for “a euphemism”\* 40,000+ is common enough, although clearly “a euphemism” is the more common. It’s what I’d say, but I wouldn’t blue pencil anyone for writing “an euphemism”, either. [/QUOTE] But for “an” to be correct, the word would have to be pronounced OO-femism (rather than YOO-femism). I’ve literally never heard such a pronunciation. Not saying that it never happens, only that i’ve never come across it while living in four prominent English-speaking countries, including England and the US. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/17 "2007-07-14T14:42:56Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] But for “an” to be correct, the word would have to be pronounced OO-femism (rather than YOO-femism). I’ve literally never heard such a pronunciation. Not saying that it never happens, only that i’ve never come across it while living in four prominent English-speaking countries, including England and the US. [/QUOTE] Widdle oo nevew heard of an oophemism? Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww… ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9fc29f/32.png) [@I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_Ron_Burgundy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/18 "2007-07-14T16:40:35Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Google sez: \*Results 1 - 10 of about 43,400 for “an euphemism”. Results 1 - 10 of about 956,000 for “a euphemism”\* 40,000+ is common enough, although clearly “a euphemism” is the more common. It’s what I’d say, but I wouldn’t blue pencil anyone for writing “an euphemism”, either. [/QUOTE] You should. The rule is not ‘a’ before consonant, ‘an’ before any word beginning with a, e, i, o, or u. There’s a linguistic concept of the words vowel and consonant that supercedes the oversimplified nonsense you were taught in second grade, and this rule references it. Just the same as you’re never going to say ‘an year’ or ‘an yule log,’ you’re never going to say ‘an euphemism’ because it features the same consonant sound /j/. Look past the letters and read the damn thing. The reason why it sounds wrong is because we’re running two consonant sounds into each other, which the rule is meant to strictly prevent. PS I’ve got 318,000 results for ‘an year’ on google. Does that make it right? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/19 "2007-07-14T17:29:39Z")
So… I stayed at **a** hotel once, where, in support of **a** union’s protest, Tiny Tim went on **an** hour-long jam about **a** unicorn. It was **an** honor to hear what that man could do with **a** ukulele, all in support of **a** worker’s rights to **an** honest day’s pay. I wonder if he needed **a** uvula replacement after that? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733/20 "2007-07-14T17:34:02Z")
[QUOTE=Rhythmdvl] So… I stayed at **a** hotel once, where, in support of **a** union’s protest, Tiny Tim went on **an** hour-long jam about **a** unicorn. It was **an** honor to hear what that man could do with **a** ukulele, all in support of **a** worker’s rights to **an** honest day’s pay. I wonder if he needed **a** uvula replacement after that? [/QUOTE] Well done, sir. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-an-euphemism-a-euphemism/411733.md?page=2)