It's a style thing

Something has been bothering me for a while now, and I need to get it out. I am a lover of words, and I tend to really like all of them. No matter how large or small, I love them.

On more than a few occasions, I have read magazines and newspapers, and I have seen a misused. I don't understand how this can happen in national, and reputable publications. I realize we are all human beings, even the editors, and we all make mistakes, but this recent observation of mine has me troubled.

It seems that we have thrown the rules out the window, and let's face it, we need rules. No matter what your line of work, you need at least a few rules.

In the world of print journalism, we use a book filled with rules on how to use and spell certain words. This book is always by our side. Sometimes it is under a stack of press releases, or other reporter clutter, but we cannot function without this book. (I think in most newsrooms it is now on the computer, but still, we use it.)

This book I refer to is one thing that keeps us all sane in this crazy business - The Associated Press STYLEBOOK and Libel Manual.

Now, unless the AP STYLEBOOK has been revised and I'm just not aware of it, here are the rules stated for a, and an. (It's the very first thing under A, so you can't miss it.)

Use the article a before consonant sounds: a historic event, a one-year term. See, even though the word "one" begins with a vowel, it sounds like a "w" which is a consonant.

Moving on to an: Use the article an before vowel sounds: an energy crisis, an honorable man. That word honorable begins with a consonant, but the h is silent, therefore it sounds like it begins with a vowel- o.

We will continue with an because it seems some writers are ignoring this wonderful little article: an NBA record. That sounds like it begins with the letter e. an 1890s celebration.

I like an. A has it's place, but I like to use an before a word that begins with a vowel. I don't like it when I am reading something enjoyable, and then I come upon the a before a word like outing.
"We are going on a outing." Ugh. I don't like that. Doesn't that sound so blunt and harsh to say a, when it clearly should be an?

Maybe it's just me.