1. Writing Lab
Diction: A and An

2. “A” and “An” are often misused.
Usage depends on sound. Use a before words or letters with an initial consonant sound.
a federal agent
a historical occasion
Use an before words or letters with an initial vowel sound.
an FBI agent
an honorary doctorate degree

3. Examples
Both the words “university” and “umpire” begin with the vowel “u.” But when we pronounce the words, they have different initial sounds.
“University” begins with the consonant sound “yu,” while “umpire” begins with the vowel sound “uh.” Therefore we say “a university” and “an umpire.”

4. Practice a/ an historian a/ an official document a/ an honors class
a/ an unusual occurrence
a/ an usual occurrence
a/an MBA degree
a/an one-million dollar lottery winner

5. Answers a historian an official document an honors class
an unusual occurrence
a usual occurrence
an MBA degree
a one-million dollar lottery winner

6. That’s all, folks!
This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series
Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon
To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson