Should I use "a" or "an"?

Question

The situation is: "___ (possibly famous) actress"
I'm confused, because the "possibly" would make it "a"...but if you didn't read the part in parentheses the "actress" would make it "an".

Which one and why?

Answer 1

You only use 'an' when the proceeding word begins with a vowel. 'A' is used when the proceeding word begins with a consonant. If the proceeding word is in parenthesis and is a part of the main sentence, it does not matter, the same rule applies. Just pretend that the parenthesis is not there.

There is one exception though, that is, if what is in parenthesis is not a part of the main sentence and is just there for additional details. In that case you use the word that comes after the parenthesis. Like in the case you have mentioned.

So, it should be 'An actress' because the words in parenthesis gives added information and is not a part of the main sentence.

hope this helped

Answer 2

I think all these answers aren't very clear. Asker knows the grammar rules that before a vowel it is "an" and before a consonant it is "a ". That is not his/her question!!
Her or his question is what to use in this special case.
Just assume the parentheses aren't there, it means the following word is "possibly" or just "actress"?
Only the first answer is clear.
But what is the right answer?
In my opinion it is "a possibly famous actress".

Answer 3

Mattering on the next word in the sentence.

If the next word starts with a vowel SOUND then you would use an "an" (<--- example "an" starts with a vowel sound). If it is a consonant sound then you use an "a".

There are words you need to be warry bout. Some words start with a consonant, but the initial sound is a vowel sound. Hour is an example. The use would be: "it will take an hour for us to write this" The H in "hour" is silent (hour and our are ... homonyms maybe ... they sound the same).

The differnce between an and a comes from how we talk ... if it sounds right then it is most likly right. So say what you want outloud to yourself and if it sounds wrong then do the opposite.

Answer 4

you should just take out the parentheses and put " a possibly famous actress"

Answer 5

The use of "a" and "an" goes by the next sound after the article. If your next word is "possibly" you would use "a". If you skip the words in parentheses when you read the sentence aloud, use "an."
It's like you say, "an apple," but "a big, red, juicy, tantalizing (I'm getting hungry) apple."

Answer 6

use the "A". because the parentheses and whats in it don't matter. the actress is the word the a or an connects too

Answer 7

Well, it's " a " because it's in front of " possibly " not " actress" but if that blank was in front of " actress " it would be " an "

Answer 8

Use "a" before a word beginning with a consonant and "an" before a word beginning with a vowel. The reason is for ease of pronunciation only.

Answer 9

Technically, the part you've inserted parenthetically is not part of the main sentence, and the default is "a". Some would argue for "a[n]"; that would satisfy for any word inserted. :)

Answer 10

if you are talking out loud, it would be "a" because you would be saying "possibly famous", but when you read/write, it would be "an" because the "possibly famous" can be omitted.

Edward, it would be "an ice cube", not "a ice cube".

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