Writing Lab Diction: A and An

“A” and “An” are often misused. Usage depends on sound. Use a before words or letters with an initial consonant sound. a federal agent a historical occasion Use an before words or letters with an initial vowel sound. an FBI agent an honorary doctorate degree

Examples Both the words “university” and “umpire” begin with the vowel “u.” But when we pronounce the words, they have different initial sounds. “University” begins with the consonant sound “yu,” while “umpire” begins with the vowel sound “uh.” Therefore we say “a university” and “an umpire.”

Practice a/ an historian a/ an official document a/ an honors class a/ an unusual occurrence a/ an usual occurrence a/an MBA degree a/an one-million dollar lottery winner

Answers a historian an official document an honors class an unusual occurrence a usual occurrence an MBA degree a one-million dollar lottery winner

That’s all, folks! This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson