A or an?

[irmamar]

A utterance or an utterance?

Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

A utterance or an utterance?

Thanks.

Depends how you pronounce the 'u'

If correctly, always 'an'

By the way. Notice the double consonant 'tt' - this means the 'u' is short, as in (can't think of a word) ah yes - country.

Note the word uterus - only one 't' thus pronounced yooterus, so it would be 'a uterus'

[poli]

The general rule is: use an
in front of words that start with a vowel.
The exception to the rule is when a vowel is pronounced like a consonant
as in the word Perikles wrote uterus.
Some English speakers seem unaware of the word an, and they sound babyish when they say things a apple, a idea .

It should be notes that there are not many words where the vowel is pronounces like a consonant.

[hermit]

Right - it's a bit like in Spanish when you use "o" or "u", "y" or "e"
for euphony and ease of speaking...

[Jessica]

you also use an in front of hour because the h is silent

[irmamar]

Yes, I knew the rule, but I didn't pronounce well the word. Now I know it. Thanks everybody.