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Harbinger Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

A/an indefinite article

0 Hi all 02br
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00I know the captioned subject has been discussed many times. 02br
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00From all past posting it seems to suggest two answers on when to use a or an. 02br
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00(1) use "a" if the noun starts with a consonant letter like " a handbag", we use "an" if the noun starts with a vowel(a,e,i,o,u) like" an apple". 02br
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00(2) use of an /a is dictated by the sound of the word, and not just how it looks/spells on writing. 02br
00eg: an heir, a unique 02br
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00Can someone please confirm which of above is correct ? 02br
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00Thank you ! 0-
  

Top answer

0 The rules that developed for writing grew out of how ENLs spoke. We follow rules of phonology, not prescriptions. 02br 02br 00CGEL: The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends purely on the phonological context.

— Ranchhand

  • 0 The rules that developed for writing grew out of how ENLs spoke.
  • We follow rules of phonology, not prescriptions.
  • 02br 02br 00CGEL: The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends purely on the phonological context.
  • The liaison from [an] occurs before a vowel sound, not before particular letters.
  • 02br 02br 00This is unproblematic as far as speech is concerned, but in writing the status of expressions like 00 00 ...
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5 Answers
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0 The rules that developed for writing grew out of how ENLs spoke. We follow rules of phonology, not prescriptions. 02br
02br
00CGEL: The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends purely on the phonological context. The liaison from [an] occurs before a vowel sound, not before particular letters. 02br
02br
00This is unproblematic as far as speech is concerned,
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0 01blockquote
00(2) use of an /a is dictated by the sound of the word, and not just how it looks/spells on writing. 12br
10eg: an heir, a unique12blockquote
12br
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00I believe this one is right. 02br
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00paco 02br
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Doesn't this also vary upon the dialect of English that is spoken in any particular region? For example, where I live the H in historian and hysterical is stressed, therefore, these words would be preceded by the article "a" instead of "an." So, is it possible that either one is correct based upon regional dialect and whether or not the H is stressed or unstressed?
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When speaking, imitate the usage of the majority of those around you.
When writing, consult the style manual your teacher or publisher prefers to use.

These two usages may not necessarily agree.

CJ
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both of them are correct the first answer is the general rule the second is the exceptions
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