Diction: a and an

1
Diction a and an

• Mini-lesson 62
• From the
• UWF Writing Labs
• 101 Grammar Mini-Lessons Series

2
The Article 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
May I have (a, an) , please.
a n b o c p d
q e r f s g t h
u I v j w k x
l y m z
an an a an a a a a an an an an
a a an a an a a a a an an
a an a
4
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.

5
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

6
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