Using "a" or "an"

**Ernie** · 18-Jan-2006, 09:11

Greetings,
I was taught to use "a" before a consonant and "an" before a vowel. My boss thinks otherwise. He claims that if the word or letter makes a vowel sound like "r" as in RN we are to use "an" so, he feels it is proper to say," I am an RN." Is it by sound or letter?
Thanks in Advance! Ernie

**Anna Xpomoba** · 18-Jan-2006, 20:03

According to Martin Hewings we use 'an' before a vowel sound
an FBI, an hour, an Italian, an heir, an MP
and an RN

**framay** · 18-Jan-2006, 20:30

Being an ex navy man myself I would'nt use an article at all. I would simply say I'm RN. Ahoy mate!

**Tdol** · 19-Jan-2006, 06:00

I agree with Anna- it is the sound that matters:
An egg/a European
An MSc

I'll take Framay's expertise about the use of the article with RN.

Thread: Using "a" or "an"

Thread Tools

Display

Using "a" or "an"

Re: Using "a" or "an"

Re: Using "a" or "an"

Re: Using "a" or "an"

Similar Threads

Articles "a", "an" "the"

The use of "a" or "an" in a sentence.

use of "a" and "an" with abbreviations

Use of "an" and "a" preceding a noun

Using "a" vs "an"

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions