An EU issue or a EU issue?

Some grammar rules (and embarrassing mistakes!) transcend the uniqueness of different regions and style guides. This new International Grammar section by OnlineBookClub.org ultimately identifies those rules thus providing a simple, flexible rule-set, respecting the differences between regions and style guides. You can feel free to ask general questions about spelling and grammar. You can also provide example sentences for other members to proofread and inform you of any grammar mistakes.

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Dennis Hodges
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Re: An EU issue or a EU issue?

Post by Dennis Hodges »

If one knows the English language, he or she should know the difference. Fortunately, I had some great English instructors.
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ma_mon28
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Post by ma_mon28 »

Helen_Combe wrote: 19 Feb 2018, 05:59 It’s all about the how it sounds when spoken.

The ‘a’ / ‘an’ usage is there to stop two hard vowel sounds clashing together. For example, ‘a ant’ grates, but ‘an ant’ flows.

However, there are exceptions Although ‘universe’ starts with a ‘u’, it sounds like it starts with a ‘y’ so does not need ‘an’ to make it flow as it’s not a vowel sound, phonetically it is ‘a yuniverse’

Similarly for words the begin with ‘h’ where the ‘h’ is not pronounced.

‘Herb is pronounced ‘urb’ In the ‘US’ and ‘herb’ in the UK.

So the US pronunciation needs ‘an’ to stop ‘a’ and ‘u’ grating, but the UK pronunciation does not need the ‘an’ as the ‘a’ and ‘h’ sounds flow together.

Hope that makes sense.
Thank you for this explanation. I'm really struggling on this issue like "an ewe" or "a ewe." Now I know that it depends on our dialect.
clancy8
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Post by clancy8 »

An European issue in my opinion.
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Zora C Penter
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Post by Zora C Penter »

I think this depends on if you use the abbreviated version as opposed to the full name.

For EU, I would use "an" because the first sound after would be a long "e."

For European Union, I would use "a" because the first sound would actually be more like a "y."
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Paulo34
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Post by Paulo34 »

It definitely is "AN " EU because the 'E' is a vowel which "an" precedes.
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Renu G
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Post by Renu G »

"It’s all about the how it sounds when spoken."

I agree with this view.
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Fazzier
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Post by Fazzier »

The right answer is "This is an EU issue”. The article "a” should always precede an indefinite vowel sound.
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Kayla_W0230
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Post by Kayla_W0230 »

Abfaniki wrote: 03 Aug 2017, 07:26 this is an EU issue is the right answer.
vowel sounds go with an not a ( Vowels are the letters A, E, I, O, U).
an apple.
not a apple

It also depends on what the word sounds like. You have an hour because hour starts with an “O” sound. Likewise, you would say a unicorn because it starts with a “Y” sound.
Aditi Sapate
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Post by Aditi Sapate »

The correct usage is 'an EU' issue.
Article use can be daunting especially because it's never properly explained in textbooks. We're lucky if we have a good teacher.
'An' comes before a vowel sound and 'a' comes before a consonant sound.
Hope this helps :)
Nathan Berner
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Post by Nathan Berner »

I think that the answer is "an EU issue" because the E in EU sounds like eeee, which is a vowel. So, you need "an" since it is before the vowel.
Nikolas Farmakis
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Post by Nikolas Farmakis »

You should write 'an EU issue', because the word EU sounds like a vowel at the start.
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books_andpoetri
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Post by books_andpoetri »

Should be AN EU issue.

An is used before words whose first syllables have vowel sounds.

It's all about phonetics. If it sounds like a vowel/consonant even when the first letter is not a vowel/consonant then the sound (pronunciation) should govern.
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Leen282
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Post by Leen282 »

Interesting discussion, especially on the words starting with 'h'. Always happy to learn something new.
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Ivona R
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Post by Ivona R »

"An EU issue". BUT, keep in mind that a vowel can have a consonant sound. For example, the word "Europe" begins with a consonant sound, therefore "a European country", would be correct in that case.
Imstaci-1
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Post by Imstaci-1 »

Helen_Combe wrote: 19 Feb 2018, 05:59 It’s all about the how it sounds when spoken.

The ‘a’ / ‘an’ usage is there to stop two hard vowel sounds clashing together. For example, ‘a ant’ grates, but ‘an ant’ flows.

However, there are exceptions Although ‘universe’ starts with a ‘u’, it sounds like it starts with a ‘y’ so does not need ‘an’ to make it flow as it’s not a vowel sound, phonetically it is ‘a yuniverse’

Similarly for words the begin with ‘h’ where the ‘h’ is not pronounced.

‘Herb is pronounced ‘urb’ In the ‘US’ and ‘herb’ in the UK.

So the US pronunciation needs ‘an’ to stop ‘a’ and ‘u’ grating, but the UK pronunciation does not need the ‘an’ as the ‘a’ and ‘h’ sounds flow together.

Hope that makes sense.
Very clear explanation.
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