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"A" or "An"?


Use 'an' before a word that starts with a vowel sound. If it does not start with a vowel sound, use 'a'. For example:

  • A man

  • An elephant

But, look at this:

  • A house

  • An hour

The key word here is sound. It is not a question of whether the word starts with a vowel. It is a question of whether it starts with a vowel sound.

Using A and An

There is sometimes confusion about whether to use an or a, particularly with abbreviations. (The words an and a are known as articles.) The sound of a word's first letter determines which to use. If the word starts with a vowel sound, you should use an. If it starts with a consonant sound, you should use a. Examples:

  • Buy a house in an hour.

  • (Although house and hour start with the same three letters (hou), one attracts a and the other an.)

  • An unknown goblin killed a unicorn.

  • (Although unknown and unicorn start with the same two letters (un), one attracts 'an' and the other 'a'. Remember, it is about the sound of the first letter.)

  • An LRS... (LRS = Linear Recursive Sequence)

  • A TT race... (TT = Tourist Trophy)

  • It would be an honour. (The word honour starts with an o sound.)

  • Send a US ambassador. (The abbreviation US starts with a y sound.)

  • She was involved in a RTA. (RTA = Road Traffic Accident) (The abbreviation 'RTA' starts with an 'a' sound (i.e., ar-tee-ay.)


 
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