Indefinite articles (and how to use them correctly).

This week we discuss the correct use of “a” and “an.” These words are indefinite articles that are used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns—as opposed to the definite article “the,” which modifies specific or particular nouns (e.g., the lawsuit versus a lawsuit, the movie versus a movie, the car versus a car).

The indefinite article “a” is used before nouns that begin with a consonant sound, including nouns with a pronounced “h” or a long “u” sound, or nouns such as “one” or “Ouija.” For example:

• a baseball game

• a coach

• a yellow bird

• a hotel

• a union

• a one-room schoolhouse

• a Ouija board

The indefinite article “an” is used before nouns beginning with a vowel, vowel sound, or an unsounded “h.” For example:

• an attorney

• an engine

• an igloo

• an onion

• an umpire

• an honor

As you can see, determining whether to use “a” or “an” basically comes down to this: what sound does the noun begin with? If the first sound you make is a vowel sound, use “an.” If it’s a consonant sound, use “a.”

Finally, when using an abbreviation, the indefinite article that precedes it depends on how the abbreviation reads. If the abbreviation is read as a word, it is an acronym and you should follow the above rule. For example:

• a NATO member (since NATO begins with a consonant sound)

• a NASA launch (since NASA begins with a consonant sound)

• an OPEC oil minister (since OPEC begins with a vowel sound)

If the abbreviation is read as a series of letters, it is an initialism and again, you should follow the above rule. For example:

• an SEC team (since the first letter has a vowel sound)

• a TSA agent (since the first letter has a consonant sound)

• a DOJ attorney (since the first letter has a consonant sound)

That is all for now …