Listening to Radio 4 in my car I was once again fascinated and irritated to hear historians talking about historical events in the present tense...."So Edward IV is married to an invalid and her two sons are murdered by Richard III who is now King." Actually the marriage was invalid not the wife invalid, but that's the English language for you.So today I am locked in the changing rooms in my health club, the lights are all turned out and I am trying to secure my towel so I can do my four fingered whistle and attract someone's attention to put the lights on so I can get dressed and get out. (This happened last Wednesday but I am being a historian) or am I being an historian? I came across this interesting list of when to use 'an' and when to use 'a' which indicates that 'a historian' is correct: a historian, an honour, a xylophone, an x-ray, a user, an umbrella, a one-eyed pirate, an owl. Apparently the Queen says "an historic event" whilst the American President says "a historic event." I have never met either of them but I should quite like to say, "It's an honour to meet you" and sound my "h" because it would make me laugh.
