The Penguin Dictionary of American English Usage and Style
A Readable Reference Book, Illuminating Thousands of Traps That Snare Writers and Speakers
Chapter One
A
A and AN. The choice of using a or
an before a word depends on the sound
of the word. Use a if the next word begins
with a consonant: a daisy, a good
egg. Use an if the next word begins with
a vowel: an ape, an easy victory.
The wrong choice showed up in three
newspapers. A federal official was
quoted (or misquoted) as saying, "We
are concerned any time there is a allegation
of serious wrongdoing...." In another
news story, an investor "filed a
$800 million lawsuit." In a column, a
presidential candidate drove "a M-1
tank."
Corrections: It is "an allegation," because
allegation begins with a vowel
sound. It is "an $800 million lawsuit,"
because eight begins with a vowel
soun ... read full excerpt from Penguin Dictionary of American English Usage and Style ebook
