'A usual' sounds more correct but 'an usual' because u is a vowel?
6 Answers
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The correct article to use before a word beginning with a vowel depends on the SOUND of the vowel. 'Usual' is pronounced YOUSE-U-EL. Therefore, it starts with the sound of a consonant and takes 'A', not 'AN.'
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Yes .. we all know that you say AN before a VOWEL and A before a CONSONANT .. but there are exceptions.
It's actually to do with how the word SOUNDS as well.
So it's A USUAL .. because it sounds like ''You'' at the start.
But it would be AN UNUSUAL .. because then you have the vowel sound.
It works the other way too.
A HORSE but AN HOTEL (because of the O sound at the start of Hotel)
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Usual (pronounced /ˈjuː.ʒu.əl/ as in you) begins with a consonant sound and, as such, it should be preceded by a not an.
Today was an unusual day
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A usual. The initial sound of "usual" is "yoo," so you don't need to write or say "an."
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Words beginning with U always are preceded by an unless the U is pronounced like a y. For example a university but an undergraduate.
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It's "an idiot."