Use Of The A And An Questions Medium
When deciding whether to use "a" or "an" before words starting with a silent "d," it is important to consider the sound that follows the silent "d." The choice between "a" and "an" depends on the sound, not the spelling of the word.
If the sound that follows the silent "d" is a vowel sound, then you should use "an." For example, you would say "an hour" because the "h" in "hour" is silent and the word starts with a vowel sound.
On the other hand, if the sound that follows the silent "d" is a consonant sound, then you should use "a." For example, you would say "a DJ" because the "d" in "DJ" is silent, but the word starts with a consonant sound.
In summary, when deciding whether to use "a" or "an" before words starting with a silent "d," consider the sound that follows the silent "d" and use "an" if it is a vowel sound, and "a" if it is a consonant sound.