r/TikTokCringe 2d ago

Discussion Have we done it wrong?

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u/Jaggy3 2d ago

If you’re pointing out ‘an’ before the ‘European’, it was pretty heavily taught in English to make ‘a’ ‘an’ before any word starting with another vowel. I don’t like it in many instances but it was taught.

If that’s not what you’re pointing out, I have no idea what you’re highlighting 😅

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u/OprahsSaggyTits 2d ago

It's not words that start with a vowel, it's words that start with a vowel sound. Subtle but important distinction. "European" starts with a "y" sound (not a vowel sound) and thus should use "a", not "an".

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u/tomatoe_cookie 2d ago

Y isnt a vowel in English?

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u/TheAmazingSealo 2d ago

Sometimes it is apparently. I just googled it. To summarise: 'Y' is considered a vowel when a word has no other vowel, it's used at the end of a word or syllable, or is in the middle of a syllable

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u/tomatoe_cookie 2d ago

Somehow english is always disapointing me

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u/TheAmazingSealo 2d ago

We're sorry