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A vs. An — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 15, 2024
"A" precedes words starting with consonant sounds, while "an" is used before vowel sounds, highlighting pronunciation ease.
A vs. An — What's the Difference?

Difference Between A and An

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Key Differences

"A" is used before words starting with consonant sounds, making speech flow easier by avoiding awkward pauses. For example, "a cat" or "a historical event" are correct because "cat" begins with a consonant sound and "historical" starts with a consonant sound /h/, despite "h" being a vowel. On the other hand, "an" precedes words starting with vowel sounds, facilitating smoother transitions in speech. This is why we say "an apple" or "an hour," where "apple" begins with a vowel sound and "hour" starts with a vowel sound /aʊər/ despite "h" being a consonant.
The use of "a" and "an" is not determined by the first letter of the following word but by the sound that follows. This is why we say "a university" (consonant sound /juː/) and "an umbrella" (vowel sound /ʌ/).
The choice between "a" and "an" can also be influenced by regional accents and pronunciation variations. For instance, "an herb" is common in American English, where the "h" is silent, whereas "a herb" is used in British English, where the "h" is pronounced.
In some cases, the use of "a" or "an" can change the meaning of a sentence or phrase. For example, "He is a European" emphasizes that he is one among many Europeans, whereas "He is an European" (though grammatically incorrect) might suggest a special emphasis on the word "European."

Comparison Chart

Initial Sound

Consonant sounds
Vowel sounds
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Example Usage

"a dog," "a university"
"an apple," "an hour"

Determined by

Sound following "a," not necessarily the first letter
Sound following "an," not necessarily the first letter

Pronunciation Impact

Facilitates ease of speech before consonant sounds
Facilitates ease of speech before vowel sounds

Regional Variations

Usage can vary based on pronunciation (e.g., "a herb")
Usage can vary based on pronunciation (e.g., "an herb")

Compare with Definitions

A

Reflects regional pronunciation differences.
She has a unique perspective.

An

Indefinite article used before vowel sounds.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

A

Indefinite article used before consonant sounds.
A cat jumped over the fence.

An

Used before silent consonants.
She waited for an hour.

A

Used before consonant-sounding vowel letters.
A unicorn is a mythical creature.

An

Adjusts to accent and dialect variations.
He's an honest person.

A

Signals one item of a non-specific group.
I need a pen to write a letter.

An

Signals one item among many, not specified.
Can I have an ice cream?

A

Facilitates smoother speech transition.
He's a good friend.

An

Ensures fluidity in speech before vowels.
It was an honor to meet you.

A

A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel letter of the modern English alphabet and the ISO basic Latin alphabet. Its name in English is a (pronounced ), plural aes.

An

The form of the indefinite article used before words beginning with a vowel sound.

A

Used when mentioning someone or something for the first time in a text or conversation
It has been an honour to meet you
A man came out of the room

An

And if; if
"an it please your majesty / To hunt the panther and the hart with me" (Shakespeare).

A

Used to indicate membership of a class of people or things
He is a lawyer
This car is a BMW

An

One

A

In, to, or for each; per (used when expressing rates or ratios)
Typing 60 words a minute
A move to raise petrol prices by 3p a litre

An

(archaic) If

A

The first letter of the alphabet.

An

(archaic) So long as.
An it harm none, do what ye will.

A

A shape like that of a capital A
An A-shape

An

(archaic) As if; as though.

A

The sixth note of the diatonic scale of C major. The A above middle C is usually used as the basis for tuning and in modern music has a standard frequency of 440 Hz.

An

The first letter of the Georgian alphabet, ა (Mkhedruli), Ⴀ (Asomtavruli) or ⴀ (Nuskhuri).

A

The first letter of the modern English alphabet.

An

In each; to or for each; per.
I was only going twenty miles an hour.

A

Any of the speech sounds represented by the letter a.

An

This word is properly an adjective, but is commonly called the indefinite article. It is used before nouns of the singular number only, and signifies one, or any, but somewhat less emphatically. In such expressions as "twice an hour," "once an age," a shilling an ounce (see 2d A, 2), it has a distributive force, and is equivalent to each, every.

A

The first in a series.

An

If; - a word used by old English authors.
Nay, an thou dalliest, then I am thy foe.

A

Something shaped like the letter A.

An

An associate degree in nursing

A

A The best or highest in quality or rank
Grade A milk.

A

The sixth tone in the scale of C major or the first tone in the relative minor scale.

A

A key or scale in which A is the tonic.

A

A written or printed note representing this tone.

A

A string, key, or pipe tuned to the pitch of this tone.

A

In every; to each; per
Once a month.
One dollar a pound.

A

To do with separation; In, into.
Torn a pieces.

A

To do with time; Each, per, in, on, by.
I brush my teeth twice a day.

A

To do with status; In.

A

(archaic) To do with position or direction; In, on, at, by, towards, onto.
Stand a tiptoe.

A

(archaic) To do with process, with a passive verb; In the course of, experiencing.

A

(archaic) To do with an action, an active verb; Engaged in.

A

(archaic) To do with an action/movement; To, into.

A

(obsolete) To do with method; In, with.

A

(obsolete) To do with role or capacity; In.
A God’s name.

A

Of.
The name of John a Gaunt.

A

Have.
I'd a come, if you'd a asked.

A

He, or sometimes she, it. en

A

All.

A

All.

A

The first letter of the English and of many other alphabets. The capital A of the alphabets of Middle and Western Europe, as also the small letter (a), besides the forms in Italic, black letter, etc., are all descended from the old Latin A, which was borrowed from the Greek Alpha, of the same form; and this was made from the first letter ( ) of the Phœnician alphabet, the equivalent of the Hebrew Aleph, and itself from the Egyptian origin. The Aleph was a consonant letter, with a guttural breath sound that was not an element of Greek articulation; and the Greeks took it to represent their vowel Alpha with the ä sound, the Phœnician alphabet having no vowel symbols.

A

The name of the sixth tone in the model major scale (that in C), or the first tone of the minor scale, which is named after it the scale in A minor. The second string of the violin is tuned to the A in the treble staff. - A sharp (A$) is the name of a musical tone intermediate between A and B. - A flat (A$) is the name of a tone intermediate between A and G.
O fair Creseide, the flower and A per seOf Troy and Greece.

A

An adjective, commonly called the indefinite article, and signifying one or any, but less emphatically.

A

In each; to or for each; as, "twenty leagues a day", "a hundred pounds a year", "a dollar a yard", etc.

A

Of.

A

A barbarous corruption of have, of he, and sometimes of it and of they.

A

An expletive, void of sense, to fill up the meter
A merry heart goes all the day,Your sad tires in a mile-a.

A

In; on; at; by.

A

In process of; in the act of; into; to; - used with verbal substantives in -ing which begin with a consonant. This is a shortened form of the preposition an (which was used before the vowel sound); as in a hunting, a building, a begging.

A

A metric unit of length equal to one ten billionth of a meter (or 0.0001 micron); used to specify wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation

A

Any of several fat-soluble vitamins essential for normal vision; prevents night blindness or inflammation or dryness of the eyes

A

One of the four nucleotides used in building DNA; all four nucleotides have a common phosphate group and a sugar (ribose)

A

(biochemistry) purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA

A

The basic unit of electric current adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites;
A typical household circuit carries 15 to 50 amps

A

The 1st letter of the Roman alphabet

Common Curiosities

Is it ever correct to use "a" before a vowel?

Yes, if the vowel sounds like a consonant, as in "a university."

How does accent affect the use of "a" and "an"?

Regional accents can alter pronunciation, influencing the choice between "a" and "an."

Can "a" and "an" be used interchangeably?

No, their use depends on the following word's initial sound.

What is the rule for using "a" and "an"?

Use "a" before words that start with a consonant sound and "an" before words that start with a vowel sound.

Why do we say "an hour" instead of "a hour"?

"Hour" starts with a vowel sound, making "an" the correct choice.

Are there exceptions to the "a" and "an" rules?

The rules are based on pronunciation, so variations can occur with different accents or dialects.

Can the use of "a" or "an" change the meaning of a sentence?

Generally, no, but improper use can lead to confusion or awkwardness.

Do all English-speaking regions follow the same rules for "a" and "an"?

Mostly, but there can be variations due to different pronunciations.

How does one decide to use "a" or "an" before abbreviations?

It depends on the sound of the abbreviation's first letter when pronounced.

What happens when an acronym starts with a vowel sound?

Use "an," as in "an FBI agent," since it's about the sound, not the letter.

Why is "a unicorn" correct and not "an unicorn"?

"Unicorn" starts with a consonant sound /juː/, making "a" the correct choice.

Why do we say "a European" and not "an European"?

"European" starts with a consonant sound /j/, so "a" is correct.

Is there a difference between "a historic" and "an historic"?

Yes, based on pronunciation; "a historic" is more common, especially where the "h" is pronounced.

Can "a" and "an" be used before numbers?

Yes, based on the sound of the number's initial word, like "a one" but "an eight."

How do non-native speakers learn to correctly use "a" and "an"?

Through listening, practice, and learning pronunciation rules.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat

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