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English: A vs. An

365 points · 529 comments · azhenley

  1. bugufu8f83 · · focus · HN ↗
    > if word.startswith("ub"): return False

    An uber-rich man riding in an Uber installed an Ubuntu package.

    I'm actually a bit surprised by this rule. Is this line there entirely due to the word "ubiquitous"? I think it is.

    1. ExoticPearTree · · focus · HN ↗
      To keep it simple, you use an when the first letter of the next word sounds like a vowel when pronounced (vowel sound) and appplies to ancronyms too. Otherwise you use a.
      1. bugufu8f83 · · focus · HN ↗
        Yes, I'm well aware. I'm responding to the code in the OP's article (you need to click through the link at the bottom of the HN submission--I have no idea why the OP blog has two separate pages for this).
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