"A" versus "an" before nouns

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Jeremiah693
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Re: "A" versus "an" before nouns

Post by Jeremiah693 »

For me, it depends on the sound of the initial word
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Post by Sha_hrun »

For me, the article “a” is used before a word that starts with a consonant or a word that starts with a vowel letter but starts with a consonant sound, while “an” is used before a word that starts with a vowel letter or a word that starts with a consonant letter but starts with a vowel sound.
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Post by ayoomisope »

Yes, in placing "a" or "an" before a word, the sound rather than the letter should serve as the guide. Familiarity with vowel sounds (there are just a few and the rest are consonant sounds) should be a good hack.
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Traxy
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Post by Traxy »

This is the kind of thing that makes English super fun for those of us who had to learn it as a second language. ;)
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Post by jgraney8 »

One way to think of it is, when "u" is pronounced as says "you", the writer should use "a" as in "a university", but when "u" is pronounced as "uh" as in umpire, use "an" as in "an umpire or an unfortunate event." With "h", use "an" when the "h" is not sounded at the beginning of a word as in "an honor or an hour." When the "h" is sounded, use "a" as in "a horse, or a horrible cold." When n is pronounced as a letter, as in N.B.A., "an" is used in front of it, as in "an N.B.A. player."
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Post by Mildred Tabitha »

I never heard of "a" university before. It should be "the" university or "the" European Union. Using"the" sounds correct to me. What do you think?
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Post by PlanetHauth »

Mildred Tabitha wrote: 13 May 2018, 00:28 I never heard of "a" university before. It should be "the" university or "the" European Union. Using"the" sounds correct to me. What do you think?
"The university" would be appropriate if you are talking about a specific university and are using the phrase to replace the proper name. For example: "Auburn University is located in Auburn, Alabama. The university offers a wide variety of courses." If you're talking about universities in a general manner and not about a specific university, "a university" is correct. For example: "It is a university's job to provide an appropriate learning environment for all of its students."
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Post by Mildred Tabitha »

PlanetHauth wrote: 13 May 2018, 23:30
Mildred Tabitha wrote: 13 May 2018, 00:28 I never heard of "a" university before. It should be "the" university or "the" European Union. Using"the" sounds correct to me. What do you think?
"The university" would be appropriate if you are talking about a specific university and are using the phrase to replace the proper name. For example: "Auburn University is located in Auburn, Alabama. The university offers a wide variety of courses." If you're talking about universities in a general manner and not about a specific university, "a university" is correct. For example: "It is a university's job to provide an appropriate learning environment for all of its students."
Thanks for the examples. I have never seen that before but now I understand how to differentiate the two. :D
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Post by PlanetHauth »

Mildred Tabitha wrote: 14 May 2018, 02:28
PlanetHauth wrote: 13 May 2018, 23:30
Mildred Tabitha wrote: 13 May 2018, 00:28 I never heard of "a" university before. It should be "the" university or "the" European Union. Using"the" sounds correct to me. What do you think?
"The university" would be appropriate if you are talking about a specific university and are using the phrase to replace the proper name. For example: "Auburn University is located in Auburn, Alabama. The university offers a wide variety of courses." If you're talking about universities in a general manner and not about a specific university, "a university" is correct. For example: "It is a university's job to provide an appropriate learning environment for all of its students."
Thanks for the examples. I have never seen that before but now I understand how to differentiate the two. :D
You're welcome! I'm glad I could help.
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Ayula96
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Post by Ayula96 »

I've learnt something. Thanks
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Post by love_b00ks »

I also encountered that "an ewe" thingy. I also believe that "a" and "an" is dependent on the sound of the word that comes next but I think I have heard somewhere that it applies only on spoken words but in writing, they follow the consonant-vowel rule. Kinda confusing, really. I feel you.
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Post by Dael Reader »

It's always been my understanding that it is the vowel sound that matters when choosing the article. So it would be "a ewe" and "a university."
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Post by roatanmama »

Thank you all for your input on this subject. It appears most of us agree that it is the sound of the start of the word that determines whether to use a or an. Hope the editing staff accepts this.
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Post by Mallory Porshnev »

Classic UK versus US. I always err on the side of putting an before vowels. I think in the UK they play around with this a lot more.
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Post by roatanmama »

I agree. For example, they pronounce the "h" in herb, which would then be a herb. Many other examples of this exist in British English.
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