An and a are forms of the same word, once spelled an, and meaning one. After losing something of this force, an was still used before vowels and consonants alike; as, an eagle, an ball, an hair, an use. Still later, and for the sake of ease in speaking, the word came to have the two forms mentioned above; and an was retained before letters having vowel sounds, but it dropped its n and became a before letters having consonant sounds. This is the present usage.
CORRECT THESE ERRORS.
A apple; a obedient child; an brickbat; an busy boy.
CORRECT THESE ERRORS.
A heir; a hour; a honor.
Notice, the first letter of these words is silent.
CORRECT THESE ERRORS.
An unit; an utensil; an university; an ewe; an ewer; an union; an use; an history; an one.
Unit begins with the sound of the consonant y; and one, with that of w.
+To the Teacher+.—See "Suggestions for COMPOSITION EXERCISES," p. 8, last paragraph.