_"A" or "An," before Words, beginning with a Vowel._--Your readers are
much indebted to Dr. Kennedy for his late exposure of the erroneous,
though common, use of the phrase "mutual friend," and I am convinced
that there are many similar solecisms which only require to be
denounced to ensure their disuse. I am anxious to ask the opinion
of Dr. K., and others of your subscribers, on another point in the
English language, namely, the principles which should guide our use of
"A" or "An" before a word beginning with a vowel, as the practice does
not appear to be uniform in this respect. The {351} minister of my
parish invariably says in his sermon, "Such an one," which, I confess,
to my ear is grating enough. I conclude he would defend himself by
the rule that where the succeeding word, as "one," begins with a
vowel, "An," and not "A," should be used; but this appears to me not
altogether satisfactory, as, though "one" is spelt as beginning with
a vowel, it is _pronounced_ as if beginning with a consonant thus,
"won." The rule of adding or omitting the final "n," according as the
following word commences with a vowel or a consonant, was meant, I
conceive, entirely for elegance in _speaking_, to avoid the jar on
the ear which would otherwise be occasioned, and has no reference
to _writing_, or the appearance on paper of the words. I consider,
therefore, that an exception must be made to the rule of using "An"
before words beginning with a vowel in cases where the words are
pronounced as if beginning with a consonant, as "one," "use," and its
derivatives, "ubiquity," "unanimity," and some others which will no
doubt occur to your readers. I should be glad to be informed if my
opinion is correct; and I will only further observe, that the same
remarks are applicable towards words beginning with "_h_." _An horse_
sounds as bad as _a hour_; and it is obvious that in these cases
employment of "A" or "An" is dictated by the consideration whether the
aspirate is _sounded_ or is _quiescent_, and has no reference to the
spelling of the word.