An Or A Before H

For the letter h the pronunciation dictates the indefinite article.

An or a before h. If the word begins with a vowel sound use an such as in an honorable man and with spoken acronyms like an fbi agent words like historic with a pronounced h can use either a or an. Use a before words where you pronounce the letter h such as a hat a house or a happy cat. Use an before words where you don t pronounce the letter h such as an herb an hour or an honorable man. The gregg reference manual tenth edition 1101 says in speech both a his toric occa sion and an his toric occa sion are okay.

Use an when the word fol low ing it starts with a vowel or an unsounded h. Prentice hall reference guide to grammar and usage says that a is used before con so nant sounds not just con so nants. A hotel a healthy baby a history documentary a happy ending a historical event a horrific accident a handbag a horse. And etymologist michael quinion himself a self confessed old fashioned an user points out younger people s preference for a.

In the eternal and generally fruitless quest to find some way to make english make sense many people look for simple rules to apply to our language.