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

These should cover 99% of the uses: a & an : before noun phrases containing an unspecified or newly-mentioned noun; use a before a word beginning with a consonant sound and use an before a word beginning with a vowel sound. the : before noun

How does university have a consonant sound at the beginning? U is a vowel and it makes a vowel sound when spoken. Surely it would be better to say there is no real rule that denotres the usage of these a's and an's. University

How does university have a consonant sound at the beginning? U is a vowel and it makes a vowel sound when spoken. Surely it would be better to say there is no real rule that denotres the usage of these a's and an's.

I appreciate the discussion. In the US, the correct usage would be determined by the consonant at the beginning of the word. Except for "historic" which would be preceded by "an." In this situation, I've been told, the

"He is an European" is not the right usage. because european does not start with a vowel sound. the sound u (a,e,i,o,u) is not a vowel sound. it is a consonant sometimes people say semi vowel. rgvijay (Email removed) india

among and amongst are both use when talking about anything refering to more then 2...now the confusing thing is when to use among and amongst :- lemme tell u : among is use when the word that comes next is starting with a consonant letter..eg:

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 /

Maybe I haven't lived enough places. But it does seem that plenty of cities have pub's named The Town Crier, but very few towns do. Leaving the apocatastrophe aside, I find from a quick Google search that there are pubs of that name in the