Is it "an utopia" or "a utopia"?

[duke]

I feel I should know this, but I don't.

 

[shimsham]

before a vowel, it should be an(best i can recall). but an utopia doesnt sound right.

 

[hjo3]

"A utopia." Because it's pronounced "yootopia."

 

[xcript]

A

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/esliart.html

 

[BigJ]

It should be "an," but it sounds much better to use 'a.' Same thing when saying "an hour," just the opposite.

 

[deftron]

Has the Y sound ... which is a consonent.


so use "a"

 

[Train]

wheres the pole?

 

[ruffilb]

Originally posted by: BigJ
It should be "an," but it sounds much better to use 'a.' Same thing when saying "an hour," just the opposite.

an hour = an (h)our

so use an, because it's a soft o sound.

 

[deftron]

Originally posted by: BigJ
It should be "an," but it sounds much better to use 'a.' Same thing when saying "an hour," just the opposite.

Same principle as above

hour has soft "o" sound

so use "an"

 

[edro]

This isn't an actual rule... it's just whichever sounds right.

 

[BrianH1]

Originally posted by: xcript
A

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/esliart.html

QFQ. (quoted for quality)

 

[silverpig]

It's not a hard rule to use 'an' before a vowel and 'a' before a consonant. You should use 'an' before a vowel sound and 'a' before a consonant sound.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: hjo3
"A utopia." Because it's pronounced "yootopia."

 

[ruffilb]

Originally posted by: BrianH1

Originally posted by: xcript
A

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/esliart.html

QFQ. (quoted for quality)

 

[OulOat]

Originally posted by: ruffilb

Originally posted by: BrianH1

Originally posted by: xcript
A

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/esliart.html

QFQ. (quoted for quality)

QFT

 

[laurenlex]

Why not just say "utopian"?

 

[EKKC]

Originally posted by: hjo3
"A utopia." Because it's pronounced "yootopia."

i agree. its how its pronounced that decides "a" or "an"

much like
"i'll be late for an hour" (silent h)
"she peed on a urinal" (yoo-rinal)

 

[hjo3]

Originally posted by: laurenlex
Why not just say "utopian"?

Because he wants to use it as a noun and not an adjective?

 

[laurenlex]

Originally posted by: hjo3

Originally posted by: laurenlex
Why not just say "utopian"?

Because he wants to use it as a noun and not an adjective?

Hey, cut me some slack. I flunked geography in high school.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

my cat's breath....

 

[aplefka]

Originally posted by: edro13
This isn't an actual rule... it's just whichever sounds right.

No, it's an actual rule. It's based on what the sound of the letter is.

 

[myusername]

Along these lines, how many of you have run into someone who talks about "an human" and pronounces it "an yooman"

I HATE that.

edit: it's not the "an", which is necessary with the pronunciation, but the pronunciation of the word "human" as "yooman" that irks me.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: myusername
Along these lines, how many of you have run into someone who talks about "an human" and pronounces it "an yooman"

I HATE that.

edit: it's not the "an", which is necessary with the pronunciation, but the pronunciation of the word "human" as "yooman" that irks me.

Hehe, never heard tht before, but it would bug me. Probably more than people who say "ruff" for roof.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: ruffilb

Originally posted by: BigJ
It should be "an," but it sounds much better to use 'a.' Same thing when saying "an hour," just the opposite.

an hour = an (h)our

so use an, because it's a soft o sound.

But then there is "an historic" which...also can be "a historic" I've seen it both ways...depending on region and how the word "historic" is said.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: deftron
Has the Y sound ... which is a consonent.


so use "a"

"Sometimes Y"