Saturday, 11 September 2004

euphemistically speaking

During english language lessons in school, we should all realise that pronouns take the form 'an' if the noun it pertains to starts with a vowel, and 'a' if the noun it pertains to starts with a consonant. Examples:-

1. A cat

2. An elephant



Why then do we refer to "a euphemism" and not "an euphemism"? The only explanation I can think of is the double vowel of euphemism cancelling each other out. But that never stopped other words an iota, did it?

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