When to Use A vs An | Rules, Difference & Examples
A and an are two forms of the indefinite article that’s used before a noun.
- You use a before a word that starts with a consonant sound (e.g., “b,” “f,” or “t”).
- You use an before a word that starts with a vowel sound (e.g., “i,” “e,” or “a”).
When you’re trying to determine whether to use “a” or “an,” you should pay attention to the sound the noun starts with, not its spelling. For example, “hour” is spelled with a consonant at the beginning, but it is pronounced like the word “our.” This means that it starts with a vowel sound and requires the indefinite article “an.”
| Examples: A in a sentence | Examples: An in a sentence |
|---|---|
| I ate a banana before going on a walk. | It’s an honor to meet you. |
| He is a student at Harvard. | I want to bake an apple pie for my birthday. |
| I would like to speak to a union representative. | I am happy I brought an umbrella on our walk. |
- An orange
- An sweet orange
- A sweet orange
A or an before U
For words beginning with “u,” you should consider the way the first letter sounds.
- If the “u” sounds like “uh,” use “an” (e.g., “an understatement,” “an ultimatum”).
- If the “u” sounds like “you,” use “a” (e.g., “a utopia,” “a university”).
Mother and baby are connected through an umbilical cord.
My aunt wants to throw a unique party when she turns forty.
I think your computer broke down because you missed an update.
A or an before H
For words beginning with “h,” you also have to consider the way the first letter of the word sounds.
- If the “h” is silent and followed by a vowel sound, you use “an” (e.g., “an heirloom,” “an hourglass”).
- If the “h” is pronounced, you use “a” (e.g., “a heart,” “a hammer”).
Mary and Lucas bought a house last year.
He asked the organization for an honorarium to cover his travel expenses.
Rowan received a discount because he is a hospital staff member.
A or an before an acronym
If you’re unsure whether an acronym should be preceded by “a” or “an,” say the acronym out loud to determine whether it starts with a consonant or vowel sound.
- For acronyms that start with a consonant sound, you use “a.”
- For acronyms that start with a vowel sound, you use “an.”
Some acronyms are pronounced as full words (e.g., “NATO”), while you pronounce others by saying the individual letters. If an acronym beginning with a consonant is pronounced with an initial vowel sound, you still have to use “an.” One example is the letter “s” (pronounced [es]).
Lovine is an FBI agent in Chicago.
The family decided to buy an SUV for their road trips.
My brother sent a GIF in the family group chat.
A vs an worksheet
Test your understanding of the difference between “a” and “an” by filling in the worksheet below.
Frequently asked questions about a vs an
- Is it an historic or a historic?
-
There are two variants of the indefinite article: a and an. You use “a” when the word starts with a consonant sound and “an” when the word starts with a vowel sound.
The word “historic” can be pronounced with a hard “h” (consonant sound) or silent “h” (vowel sound). You should choose the indefinite article that fits your pronunciation.
- I watched a historic movie.
- I watched an historic movie.
Use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to fix mistakes for free.
- Is it an hour or a hour?
-
There are two variants of the indefinite article: a and an. You use “a” when the word starts with a consonant sound and “an” when the word starts with a vowel sound.
The noun “hour” is pronounced with a silent “h” (vowel sound), so you should use “an.
- We only have a hour.
- I waited an hour for you.
Use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to fix mistakes for free.
- Is it an unique or a unique?
-
There are two variants of the indefinite article: a and an. You use “a” when the word starts with a consonant sound and “an” when the word starts with a vowel sound.
The “u” in “unique” is pronounced like the word “you,” which is a consonant sound. This means you should use “a.”
- An unique watch
- A unique personality
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- Is it an honor or a honor?
-
There are two variants of the indefinite article: a and an. You use “a” when the word starts with a consonant sound and “an” when the word starts with a vowel sound.
The word “honor” is pronounced with a silent “h” (vowel sound), so you should use “an.”
- It’s a honor to meet you
- It’s an honor to meet you.
Use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to fix mistakes for free.
