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OK, I have seen two posters use this, one repeatedly...
Just information, that's all...
"A" is used before a word that starts with a consonant/hard sound, eg, "A dog", "A cat". "A house".
"An" is used before a word that starts with a vowel/vowel sound, eg, "An error", "An inkling", "An opportunity".
That's all.:cool:
Aha!
There's a answer to everything?:confused:;)
FYI, we were taught to also use "an" for a word starting with an "h" which is silent.
So it would be an hour, not a hour.
But a house is correct, because you pronounce the 'h.'
Just the other day I was sending an email to my co-workers saying I had an/a UBOC envelope. When using just letters which one would it be? Saying it outloud it sounds better to say "a" UBOC, but is that correct??
Ooh Cindy, good thought. For example anything that begins with a "u" that is pronounced like the letter "U" I would use "a." For example, "a united front," "a picture of a unicorn." But if it sounds like "uh", I would say "an." For example: "an umbrella," "an unexpected surprise," and so on.
I am reminded of a Monty Python sketch. :)
"He is an Halibut."
It does depend on the sound of the word, which is why I added 'vowel sound' or a 'hard sound'.
UNBC - that starts with a "y" sound, so "a" is correct. ("y" is a vowel only "sometimes" - remember memorizing the vowels in the early grades? :D)
And "hour" does start without the H sound, so "an" goes with that.
LOL - I remember "An Halibut". Eric the Half-A-Bee! (Half-An-Bee???:) )
THANK YOU for posting this! It annoys me when I see this mistake made continually. Surely it sounds un-natural to say to yourself in your head as you type, for example, 'an dog' or 'a argument'? :confused:
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Originally Posted by Suki Wingy
:D
Exactly!! LOL :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Ginger's Mom
That's what I thought. Thanks Candace. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
Another one that drives me crazy is a lot and alot or even allot.
A lot: a considerable quantity or extent
Allot: to assign as a share or portion, or to distribute by or as if by lot
and don't even get me started on the apostrophes! :rolleyes:
Thank you!
Another one is "noone" NO SUCH WORD, PEOPLE! :mad: It's two words - No one. Thank you. Rant over :p
What about there, their, and they're!?! I see those misused all the time! I know how to use them correctly, but to explain it?
There is used in regards to a place. "We went there too!"
Their is possessive. "The dog is theirs." "This is their dog."
They're is a contraction of They and Are. "They're our relatives."
How about the one I see used incorrectly all the time, which really irks the crap out of me.
Use "I" and "Me" correctly in a sentence.
I see people use "I" incorrectly all the time, because I think they think it sounds or looks like the proper way to say/write it.
If you can say "I" in the sentence without the other person being in it, and it still makes sense, then you're using "I" correctly.
My mother and I went to see the concert. I went to see the concert.
This is a picture of my mother and me. This is a picture of me.