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Sleven Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

A or An

I was composing a letter when I came to this sentence I was stumped as to which is correct.

"Is this a one or the other option?"
or
"Is this an one or the other option ?"

The first sentence sounds correct. In speaking I would never say, "an one or the other".
I live with an English major and I ask him. His first response was, "a one", but then thought about it and couldn't decide which one was correct.

Any thoughts?
  

Top answer

a one is correct because, though spelled with an initial vowel, one is pronounced as if it begins with a "w" sound, that is, like the word "won". The rule for the use of a and an is based on the sound, not the spelling, of the following word. CJ

— CalifJim

  • a one is correct because, though spelled with an initial vowel, one is pronounced as if it begins with a "w" sound, that is, like the word "won".
  • The rule for the use of a and an is based on the sound, not the spelling, of the following word.
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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a one is correct because, though spelled with an initial vowel, one is pronounced as if it begins with a "w" sound, that is, like the word "won".

The rule for the use of a and an is based on the sound, not the spelling, of the following word.

CJ
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