How do you know when to use the indefinite articles: "a" or "an"?

The choice of article is actually based upon the phonetic (sound) quality of the first letter of the word before, not on the orthographic (written) representation of the letter. If the first letter of the word before makes a vowel-type sound, you use "an". If the first letter of the word before makes a consonant-type sound, you use "a". Exceptions Use "an" before a silent "h". eg an honest error Use "a" when "u" makes the same sound as the "y" in "you". The sound is actually the glide [j], which phonetically has consonantal properties. eg a union Use "a" when "o" makes the same sound as "w" in "won" eg a one-legged man "a" or "an"? union united front umbrella unicorn unique situation ubiquitous gadget unified peace accord usual complaint unanimous decision uniform uninformed person eulogy easy way out Egyptian mummy once in a life time offer eucalyptus tree US senator onion one-sided essay used napkin useful exercise undeniable truth eight-year-old child 11th hour decision UN peacekeeper NBC reporter NATO soldier MBA Mensa member xenophobic racist SOS distress call x-ray honourable man historian history heir heirloom honorific title horse honest mistake hysterical joke hour

Using a and an Before Words

The Rule
The rule states that a should be used before words that begin with consonants (e.g., b, c ,d) while an should be used before words that begin with vowels (e.g., a,e,i). Notice, however, that the usage is determined by the pronunciation and not by the spelling, as many people wrongly assume. You should say, therefore, an hour (because hour begins with a vowel sound) and a history (because history begins with a consonant sound). Similarly you should say a union even if union begins with a u. That is because the pronunciation begins with yu, which is a consonant sound.

Abbreviations
Deciding which version you should use with abbreviations is the tricky part. First of all you need to understand if the abbreviation is pronounced as a single word or letter by letter. While we say a light-water reactor, the abbreviation is an LWR. Similarly, you should use an NBC reporter (because NBC is pronounced enbisi) and a NATO authority (because NATO begins with a ne sound).

a or an

Use the article a before words pronounced with a beginning consonant sound, including a pronounced h, a long u and the word one. Examples: a historian, a horse, a hysterical joke, a union, such a one as this. Use an before words pronounced with a beginning vowel sound and a silent h (which results in a vowel sound). Examples: an onion, an umbrella, an hour, an honest man. When an article appears before an abbreviation, acronym or numeral, choose one based upon pronunciation. Examples: a UC student, a U.S. senator, an 11th hour project, an NKU collaboration.