Many people adhere to a belief that you use the article “a” before words that begin with consonants and “an” before words that begin with vowels. But that isn’t the rule, and it’s important to avoid this rookie mistake before turning over your manuscript to agents and editors or day to day conversations.

The real rule is this: You use the article “a” before words that start with a consonant sound and “an” before words that start with a vowel sound. For example, He has a unique point of view on the subject and talked about it for an hour. The “u” in “unique” makes the “Y” sound—a consonant sound—therefore you use “a” as your article, while the “h” in “hour” sounds like it starts with “ow”—a vowel 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).

Lalasticlala

Nice one. Also tell these folks that keep on using 'an' for words beginning with 'h': an hotel, an hospital, etc.

An is only used before a word beginning with 'h' when the 'h' is silent and followed by a vowel sound, eg an hour, an honour etc.

Ok

This is awesome. Settled a confusion in my head.

lala

Learnt something new, English and it's many rules

Another phase of the imported language

Abeg make no body mention me o

Na me go Finally bury English

kingphilip:
Another phase of the imported language

Abeg make no body mention me o

Na me go Finally bury English

I go quote you..
But the initiative is good and that's the essence of upcoming novel.. Language is our culture. If we allow English take all that right from us, we are returning to slavery with nobody to ever fight it.

Divepen1:
I go quote you..
But the initiative is good and that's the essence of upcoming novel.. Language is our culture. If we allow English take all that right from us, we are returning to slavery with nobody to ever fight it.

and I believe wan learn how to write story that year o but laziness sha no gree me

kingphilip:
and I believe wan learn how to write story that year o but laziness sha no gree me

You fit still learn oo.. There are many opportunities oo

Divepen1:
You fit still learn oo.. There are many opportunities oo

opportunity like which and which

kingphilip:
opportunity like which and which

on different sites. And if you can wait, I'll resume my regular fiction jagbajantis

Divepen1:
on different sites. And if you can wait, I'll resume my regular fiction jagbajantis

I will

Thanks for the opportunity

kingphilip:
I will
Thanks for the opportunity

You're welcome o..

English wahala too much. Me just dey murder ni o. No lele sha.