Use of "a" or "an" in writing AND speech

Question

0My friend and I are having an argument. I told him that use of the word "an" is dictated by the SOUND of the first letter and not just the way it looks on the page. He said that this is only true for speech and not in writing. I told him that proper grammar is proper grammar...PERIOD. And that just because there are things we are excused from in speech, but not in writing, doesn't mean that it's proper grammar.02br02br00Which one of us is right? (I know it's me, but I need proof 05000)010id2

Clive · Accepted Answer

0Hi,02br
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00Ask him for some examples of what he means, and post them here for comments.05002br
02br
00Best wishes, Clive010id1

CalifJim · Answer

0 01blockquote

00He said that this is only true for speech and not in writing.12blockquote

10That means he believes there are cases in which we say 01i00an02i00 but write 01i00a02i00, or in which we say 01i00a02i00 but write 01i00an02i00. But there are no such cases, so how can this claim be correct?02br
02br
00 CJ0-

Nona the brit · Answer

0You mean he thinks that we would put02br
02br
00'This is an unique opportunity', because we can see that it starts with a vowel, even though we would say 'a' in speech.02br
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00I'm afraid he is a little confused. The 'a if the next sound is a consonant' and 'an if the next sound is a vowel' does apply in writing as well as in speech.0-

Lil&apos; Ruby Rose · Answer

0 And similarly, we would write "an" for expressions like "sending out an SOS", where 's' is a consonant, but the pronunciation 'ess' starts with a vowel sound. 0-

Anonymous · Answer

0 Thank u. I knew I was right, lol. He almost had me doubting myself. 0-

Use of "a" or "an" in writing AND speech

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