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Proactive disclosure Print version   | |  GSC Guide to Authors The indefinite articles 'a' and 'an'
Grammar The indefinite article a is used when the word following begins with a consonant (i.e. a letter of the alphabet other than a vowel) or a consonant sound. An is used when the following word begins with a vowel (i.e. the letters a, e, i, o, u). The form of the indefinite article fluctuates, however, before some words beginning with h, depending upon the pronunciation of the h; this includes the aspirated h (with an audible h-sound), and the y- and w-sound heard in union and one.
a horst, a history, a habit, a halide, a hand level, a halo, a hand specimen,
a hanging wall, a hardpan, a heavy liquid, a hinge, a hill, a hiatus, and a
hoodoo.
Some words are spelled with an initial vowel, but pronounced as a consonant: a European fossil, a euphemism, etc. Conversely, words spelled with an initial consonant, but pronounced with a vowel, take an: an MP. The article an is used for a before vowels and before an unaspirated h:
an elevation
an IUGS scientist an n-n log an hour an M.A. an oolite an honours degree
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