Use Of The A And An Questions Medium
When deciding whether to use "a" or "an" before words starting with a silent "x," it is important to consider the sound that follows the "x." The general rule is to use "an" before words starting with a silent "x" if the following sound is a vowel sound. This is because "an" is used before words that begin with vowel sounds to ensure smooth pronunciation.
For example, we would say "an xylophone" because the "x" is silent and the following sound is a vowel sound (/ɪksɪləfoʊn/). Similarly, we would say "an x-ray" because the "x" is silent and the following sound is also a vowel sound (/ɛksreɪ/).
However, if the following sound is a consonant sound, we would use "a" before words starting with a silent "x." For instance, we would say "a xenophobia" because the "x" is silent and the following sound is a consonant sound (/zɛnəfoʊbiə/).
In summary, when encountering words starting with a silent "x," use "an" if the following sound is a vowel sound and use "a" if the following sound is a consonant sound.