Should I use A or An before words starting with a silent w?

Use Of The A And An Questions Medium



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Should I use A or An before words starting with a silent w?

When deciding whether to use "a" or "an" before words starting with a silent "w," it is important to consider the sound that follows the "w." The general rule is to use "an" before words starting with a silent "w" when the following sound is a vowel sound. This is because "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, regardless of the actual letter.

For example, we say "an hour" because the "h" in "hour" is silent, and the following sound is a vowel sound (/aŹŠ/). Similarly, we say "an honest person" because the "h" in "honest" is silent, and the following sound is also a vowel sound (/ɒ/).

On the other hand, if the following sound is a consonant sound, we use "a" before words starting with a silent "w." For instance, we say "a wristwatch" because the "w" in "wristwatch" is silent, but the following sound is a consonant sound (/r/).

In summary, the choice between "a" and "an" before words starting with a silent "w" depends on the sound that follows the "w." Use "an" if the following sound is a vowel sound and "a" if it is a consonant sound.