"an" is only used when the H is silent, not just when it is soft. The H in Hilarious isn't silent, so "a" was the correct article to use. It doesn't matter what word the article is modifying, it only matters what word the article is in front of.
The rule is you use "a" when the next word starts with a consonant sound and "an" when the next word starts with a vowel sound. So "a" goes in front of hilarious, one, union, cat, etc. and "an" goes in front of onion, honorable, honesty, elephant, etc.
I think that using "an" before an "h-" word is appropriate only if the accent is not on the first syllable. Like you would say "a hIstory" but "an histOric."
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impeccable grammar on the '50's ad.
Grammar didn't exist back then fool.
What's wrong with it? "An" is modifying "Optical" so it should be correct. Just sounds funky.
with soft consonants like H sometimes "an" is used instead of "a".
and people in the 50s were stupid
"an" is only used when the H is silent, not just when it is soft. The H in Hilarious isn't silent, so "a" was the correct article to use. It doesn't matter what word the article is modifying, it only matters what word the article is in front of.
The rule is you use "a" when the next word starts with a consonant sound and "an" when the next word starts with a vowel sound. So "a" goes in front of hilarious, one, union, cat, etc. and "an" goes in front of onion, honorable, honesty, elephant, etc.
Actually, that usage was correct. Just like you would say "an historic occasion." Weird that the first guy to get it right was low-ranked.
so its an xray hero?
I think that using "an" before an "h-" word is appropriate only if the accent is not on the first syllable. Like you would say "a hIstory" but "an histOric."
Thanks, Grant. These guys obviously Googled it and failed to see any further than this preceding factor.