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Everyone learns “a before consonants, an before vowels”. That’s almost right. The real rule is about sound.
Silent letters flip it
✓ an hour, an honest mistake (the h is silent → vowel sound)
“Yoo” and “wun” sounds
✓ a university, a European city, a one-time offer
Say the next word out loud. If it starts with a vowel sound, use an. Simple as that.
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