The choice of a or an is not based on the initial written letter. It is based on the initial sound. You have to listen to sounds, not look at letters, to decide. The most common examples are with words that start with the "y" sound,

Using “a” and “an” Before Words Raphael asks: When should I use “a” and when should I use “an” before the different words? For example, should I say “a hour” or “an hour?” I stumble over this everytime and dont’t know if I’m getting it right, as

As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite article "a" before words beginning with a consonant and "an" before words beginning with a vowel or a diphthong. And the sound "y" ( or / j /

My suggestion to you, Sparky, and all other ("caught" is ... vowel even though (O) may be the appropriate phonetic symbol. My suggestion to you, Arfy, is to use phonetic notation whenever you want to tell someone how you pronounce

My suggestion to you, Sparky, and all other ("caught" is "cot") (Western United States English) speakers is to use /o/ for the "court"/"core" vowel even though (O) may be the appropriate phonetic symbol. My

I'm cutting fr.lettres.langue.francaise out of it, and reinstating alt.usage.english., because that's where I'm writing from. Have you found that there is a generational difference in the different pronunciations of "plus"?

Ruud Harmsen filted: In a chat group like alt.usage.english, it's close enough to the sound an English speaker perceives when he or she hears the sound. I will continue to think of the sound as being close to English "h" but with a

What spelling rules? In fact, why is it "spelling" why isn't ... not pronounced with a long "i" and long "e" respectively. Single and double consonants are used to indicate pronunciation in English.

If "canceled" is correct, then why isn't "speled"? Explain why they are not pronounced with a long "i" and long "e" respectively. You need to consider the stress as well as the length. (Of course, the

What logic? Both 'pavilion' and 'canceled' follow normal spelling rules; a double L would be unnecessary in the first case, and wrong in the second. What spelling rules? In fact, why is it "spelling" why isn't this