Use Of The A And An Questions Medium
Yes, you can use "a" or "an" before words starting with a silent "w." The choice between "a" and "an" depends on the sound that follows the article, not the spelling of the word. If the word starting with a silent "w" is followed by a vowel sound, you would use "an." For example, you would say "an hour" because "hour" is pronounced with a silent "h" sound, making the following sound a vowel sound. On the other hand, if the word starting with a silent "w" is followed by a consonant sound, you would use "a." For example, you would say "a wristwatch" because "wristwatch" is pronounced with a "w" sound, which is a consonant sound.