It started out as a way to pass the time. As I do when I'm particularly bored, I like to analyze the words in any given sentence. I noticed, in my musings, that the word "unique," when accomanied by the article "a," doesn't follow the usual structure. Most words that start with a vowel require "an," but unique doesn't. So I ask you, Hatrack, are there any other words that follow the same rule as "unique?"
Sorry if this was badly worded, but I couldn't think of another way to make this clear. Bear with me.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
It does follow the rule. You just have a simplified version of the rule. If a word starts with a vowel sound it is preceded by an. Unique starts with a y sound, thus the a.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Although "unique" is spelled with an initial vowel, it's pronounced as if there were a "y" in front: yooneek. You wouldn't put "an" in front of any other words that started with a "y", such as "yak."
There are many examples, like most words that begin with "eu."
--Mel
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
"Honor" and "honorable" are other ones that go by sound rather than spelling-- "He lived an honorable life."
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
Good point. I never thought of it that way. Thank you Hatrackers!
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
e.g. eunuch, Europe, utopia, universe, unit, Unitarian, user, etc.
My favorite grammar (or spelling, I suppose) rule is the "I before E except after C, or when sounded like 'ay' as in 'neighbor' and 'weigh'" rule, purely because the only exception is weird.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
It is not either. Or is that neither?
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :