An/A [number]

apeZ

apeZ

apeZ

Soldato
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Erm, little language issue I have been trying to get to grips with.

So, naturally, 'an' is used before a word starting with a vowel, correct?

An animal. An egg. An anecdote.

So, with numbers, it should be

An one, An eight ? Doesn't seem to sound quite right, especially when writing it in the format 'An 1', 'An 8' as opposed to 'A 1', 'A 8' etc.

Can anyone shed some light on this, I am by no means illiterate, its just something that is confusing at times (and I was born English) - just not sure how it should be written, particularly in maths/physics.
 
It's the sound of the word. If the sound is like it begins with a vowel, then it's 'an'.

e.g An honour. Note the silent H at the start.
 
Hmm, An 8 is probably right - trying to say the sounds to myself to get to grips with it. Its just when its written down on paper it just seems a bit unusual.
 
A one (because it's pronounced 'wun').
An eight.
A hero.
A hotel.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hero

he·ro
–noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros.
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4. Classical Mythology.
a. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
b. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
c. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.
5. hero sandwich.
6. the bread or roll used in making a hero sandwich.
 
scorza said:
A one (because it's pronounced 'wun').
An eight.
A hero.
A hotel.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hero

he·ro
–noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros.
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4. Classical Mythology.
a. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
b. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
c. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.
5. hero sandwich.
6. the bread or roll used in making a hero sandwich.
Click to expand...

You are such an hero.
 
So what about two? An two? Nay, nay and thrice nay, plain and simple it just sounds wrong.

In fact, more to the point why do you want to put "a" or "an" in front of most numbers? You would say "I have two parakeets/Toblerones/wheels" etc not "I have an two of them". The main plausible reason I can think of where you'd use "a" or "an" with a number is on die and you usually only need count up to twelve there.
 
semi-pro waster said:
So what about two? An two? Nay, nay and thrice nay, plain and simple it just sounds wrong.

In fact, more to the point why do you want to put "a" or "an" in front of most numbers? You would say "I have two parakeets/Toblerones/wheels" etc not "I have an two of them". The main plausible reason I can think of where you'd use "a" or "an" with a number is on die and you usually only need count up to twelve there.
Click to expand...

Er.. :D
 
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