When to use A vs. An?

When to use « a »

• Use « a » if the next word starts with with the sound of a consonant (a question, a flower).
• Use « a » if the next word starts with a vowel that sounds like a consonant :
• when the initial « e » makes the same sound as y in you (a Euro)
• when the initial « o » makes the same sound as w in won (a one)
• when the initial « u » makes the same sound as y in you (a user)

When to use « an »

• Use « an » if the next word starts with the sound of a vowel (an apple, an orange).
• Use « an » if the next word starts with a silent h followed by a vowel (an hour, an honesty)

Examples:

a man

a user

a unicycle

a European

a one

a university

a hat

a hero

a hospital

an apple

an actor

an hour

an island

an umbrella

an M.B.A.

an attractive man