Once again it’s time for a historic Quiz Bowl. Okay, maybe
historic is a bit much, but I’m trying to make a point here. The
point has to do with the subject of this month’s AMA Manual of
Style quiz—articles. Is it a historic or an historic Quiz Bowl?
Did you guess a historic? If so, you’re right. The article a is
used before the aspirate h (eg, a historic occasion) and
nonvocalic y (eg, a ubiquitous organism) (§11.9, Articles, p 412
in print). Try another example from this month’s quiz. The
physician told that patient that he should have a/an ultrasound
examination performed. Here’s a hint. Sometimes it helps to read
the sentence aloud. The answer is as follows (use your mouse to
highlight the text box): The physician told that patient that he
should have an ultrasound examination performed. Words beginning
with vowels are preceded by a or an according to the sound
following (in this case, the u sound) (§11.9, Articles, p 412 in
print). Sound plays an important role in determining whether to
use a or an. Test