"A" vs "An" and words beginning with "e"


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I normally don't have trouble with this sort of thing, but I've been given a questionable suggestion by Word (I think it is lying to me).

 

How does one discuss a(n) electrical outlet? A(n) election? A(n) elementary concept? A(n) electrochromic panel?

 

I'd swear that these example should all use "an"... :s

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There's a simple rule. If the word begins with a vowel, use the 'An' indefinite article, otherwise, use 'A'. There might be exceptions to this rule, but I can't recall any at the moment.

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It's working properly for me, this particular machine has 2010 on it, haven't tried 2013.  It correctly tags "a" as being incorrect, the bottom ones are due to sentence fragments.  

 

wordnkn.png

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They would all be 'an'.

 

 

There's a simple rule. If the word begins with a vowel, use the 'An' indefinite article, otherwise, use 'A'. There might be exceptions to this rule, but I can't recall any at the moment.

 

It isn't truly about what the next word starts with, it is about how the start of the word sounds e.g.

 

umbrella

university

 

an umbrella

a university - you-niversity

 

https://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/a-an.htm

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They would all be 'an'.

 

 

 

It isn't truly about what the next word starts with, it is about how the start of the word sounds e.g.

 

umbrella

university

 

an umbrella

a university - you-niversity

 

https://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/a-an.htm

That's correct. I was just trying to simplify it for him. As far as I'm aware, in most cases, that rule does apply. There are probably a few exceptions of course.

 

Edit: Looking at your link clears it up. It's the consonant/vowel sound that changes the article.

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It's working properly for me, this particular machine has 2010 on it, haven't tried 2013.  It correctly tags "a" as being incorrect, the bottom ones are due to sentence fragments.  

 

wordnkn.png

 

Huh. The plot thickens. :|

 

Yes, I know the simple version of the rule. I also know that there are exceptions, which is why I decided to ask, rather than attempt to find a rule that might or might not exist for this particular usage case. :)

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That's correct. I was just trying to simplify it for him. As far as I'm aware, in most cases, that rule does apply. There are probably a few exceptions of course.

 

Yes, when i was at school we were taught that if the following word started with a vowel, you used 'an'.  This is obviously not the case but i suspect that kids are still taught this way to simplify things.

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There's a simple rule. If the word begins with a vowel, use the 'An' indefinite article, otherwise, use 'A'. There might be exceptions to this rule, but I can't recall any at the moment.

 

 

A xbox still sound strange to me an xbox sounds better.

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A xbox still sound strange to me an xbox sounds better.

 

It's governed by the sound, which is why usage with herb differs depending on where you are. And an Xbox sounds like an ex-box, which...begins with a vowel.

 

But yeah, U-beginning words can be odd.

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A xbox still sound strange to me an xbox sounds better.

That's because 'xbox' has a vowel starting sound (specifically 'ex' sounds like an 'e') that's why. Metalithrax's link explains this well. Consonant sounding words such as 'European' (You-ropean) that begin with a vowel use 'A', and Vowel sounding words such as 'Hour' (Our) that begin with a consonant use 'An'. This directly contradicts the rule we've all been taught. Generally though, that rule still applies.

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What always surprises me is when someone says that "it was an historic event." :blink:

But yeah, it's down to the pronunciation of the word.

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There's a simple rule. If the word begins with a vowel, use the 'An' indefinite article, otherwise, use 'A'. There might be exceptions to this rule, but I can't recall any at the moment.

 

You can use an before h as in "an historian" but it's rarely used.

 

Edit: Nick beat me to it :)

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What always surprises me is when someone says that "it was an historic event." :blink:

But yeah, it's down to the pronunciation of the word.

Silent 'H' words (Hour, Heir, etc) require 'An' because they have a vowel sound so It's easy to understand the confusion.

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You can use an before h as in "an historian" but it's rarely used.

 

Edit: Nick beat me to it :)

Technically, that's wrong because historian has a 'H' consonant sound. Though I suppose it depends on how much you stress the 'h' vs 'i'. Not that it matters that much anyway. Everyone still understands the meaning which is the main thing.

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