--- src/cmd1.c.orig	2004-01-01 19:42:07.000000000 -0500
+++ src/cmd1.c	2005-01-11 21:44:50.000000000 -0500
@@ -2473,6 +2473,25 @@
 
 
 /*
+ * Skip past a leading "a " or "an " in a string	--dsb
+ *
+ * Mega-Hack:  We apply this in py_attack() below to the output of
+ * monster_race_desc(), since it's easier in the short term than giving
+ * said function a new argument to omit the leading article.  In the long
+ * term, we'll probably want to add that argument, in which case this
+ * function should go away.
+ */
+static cptr skip_article(cptr s)
+{
+	if (s[0] == 'a' && s[1] == ' ' && s[2])
+		return s+2;
+	if (s[0] == 'a' && s[1] == 'n' && s[2] == ' ' && s[3])
+		return s+3;
+	return s;
+}
+
+
+/*
  * Player attacks a (poor, defenseless) creature        -RAK-
  *
  * If no "weapon" is available, then "punch" the monster one time.
@@ -2862,7 +2881,7 @@
 
 							msg_format
 							("You cruelly stab the helpless, sleeping %s!",
-							 buf);
+							 skip_article(buf));
 						}
 						else
 						{
@@ -2870,7 +2889,7 @@
 
 							monster_race_desc(buf, m_ptr->r_idx, m_ptr->ego);
 
-							msg_format("You backstab the fleeing %s!", buf);
+							msg_format("You backstab the fleeing %s!", skip_article(buf));
 						}
 
 						/* Complex message */