Use Of The A And An Questions Long
The rule for using "A" or "An" before words starting with silent letters is based on the sound of the following word, rather than the actual letter itself.
When the word following the article starts with a silent consonant, we use "An" instead of "A." This is because "An" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, regardless of whether the first letter is a vowel or a consonant.
For example, we say "an hour" because the "h" in "hour" is silent, and the word is pronounced with a vowel sound (/aʊər/). Similarly, we say "an honest person" because the "h" in "honest" is silent, and the word is pronounced with a vowel sound (/ɒnɪst/).
On the other hand, when the word following the article starts with a silent vowel, we use "A" instead of "An." This is because "A" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound, regardless of whether the first letter is a vowel or a consonant.
For example, we say "a university" because the "u" in "university" is silent, and the word is pronounced with a consonant sound (/junɪˈvɜːrsɪti/). Similarly, we say "a one-time event" because the "o" in "one" is silent, and the word is pronounced with a consonant sound (/wʌn/).
In summary, when deciding whether to use "A" or "An" before words starting with silent letters, we should consider the sound of the following word rather than the actual letter. If the word starts with a silent consonant, we use "An," and if it starts with a silent vowel, we use "A."