Using "a" or "an" before h
The use "a" or "an" before h is a very tricky case that often arises either when writing or speaking. Is it "a" or "an" hour, "a" or "an" historic?
The problem is that words that begin with the letter "h" sometimes begin with the consonant sound of "h" and sometimes the "h" is unsounded.
So in the case of those that begin with consonant sounds "a" is used:
He is A heroic figure
He fought A hideous monster
In the case of those that begin with an unsounded "h" then "an" is used:
It was An honorable gesture
He is An honest real estate broker
Exceptions to these rules in speaking:
You will find that in many cases public speakers (more often British than American will use "an" on letters beginning with h that contain more than 3 syllables.
So they will say "a history textbook" but "an historical event". Another example is where they will say "a habit" but "an habitual offender". If one sticks to the phonetic rules they should be fine in most cases.
A highly recommended books for dealing with these cases is The English Language: A User's Guide by Jack Lynch. Click the image to look inside.
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Other commonly referenced examples using "a" or "an":
a or an historic?
"a" should be used before words that begin with consonant sounds (b,c,d,f,g..)
This A historic event
a or an hour?
"an" should be used before words that begin with vowel sounds (a,e,i,)
I have An hour to speak (hour begins with an unsounded h)
a or an unique?
"a" should be used before words that begin with consonant sounds (b,c,d,f,g..)
That is A unique home (unique begins with the sound "yoo")
a or an university?
"a" should be used before words that begin with consonant sounds (b,c,d,f,g..)
Harvard is A university (university begins with the sound "yoo")
a or an european?
"a" should be used before words that begin with consonant sounds (b,c,d,f,g..)
I drive A european car (european begins with the sound "yoo")
a or an year?
"a" should be used before words that begin with consonant sounds (b,c,d,f,g..)
I left for A year (unique begins with the sound "yea")
a or an useful?
"a" should be used before words that begin with consonant sounds (b,c,d,f,g..)
This is A useful site (useful begins with the sound "yoo")
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