When to Use “a” or “an”

Let’s start at the beginning: when to use “an” and when to use “a.”

How often do you hear somebody say, “Fifty bucks a hour?” No no no no no!!!!

Use “a” when the next word begins with a consonant or sounds like a consonant: The President is elected to a four-year term. The Gettysburg Address was a historic event. Notice the “h” sound.

Conversely, use “an” when the next word begins with a vowel or sounds like a vowel: An energy crisis must be averted. I charge fifty bucks an hour. Notice the “h” is silent, so the word is pronounced like “our.”

Until next time! Use the right words!

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