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a hour vs an hour

The correct phrase is "an hour." The use of "an" before "hour" is necessary because the word "hour" begins with a vowel sound. This rule applies to all words that begin with a vowel sound, not just vowels themselves.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 1454 views

a hour

This is incorrect. The article "a" should not be used before the word "hour" because it begins with a vowel sound.

The correct phrase is "an hour" because the word "hour" starts with a vowel sound. Use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound and "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound.
  • Bring your whistle, in a hour.
  • Less than a hour later, contract was delivered to me.
  • The ceremony starts in a hour.
  • Be back in a hour with the tickets.
  • Tammy will be up in a hour.
  • And a hour ago bombed Schalburgkorpset Tivoli in reply.
  • See you in theatre in a hour.
  • Dude, we've been waiting like a hour already.
  • We're going to stick here till about a hour before daylight.
  • If I'm not back in a hour, wake up Lukas.
  • Then he was found a hour later in a pool of Gedda's blood.
  • Be at Neesey's crib in a hour.
  • M.E. says he couldn't have been dead more than a hour.
  • Be at Neesey's crib in a hour.
  • But y'all should have signs up and down in the hallways 'cause I've been stuck in here for about a hour, man.
  • It'll take a hour and cost you about 40 bucks.
  • It's about a hour south of the city.
  • I had a little drink about a hour ago
  • I'll be back as quick as I can, so it'd be about a hour and a half.
  • He went to get Leila and he's been there for a hour and a half.

Alternatives:

  • an hour
  • a minute
  • a day
  • an apple
  • a university

an hour

This is correct. The article "an" is used before the word "hour" because it begins with a vowel sound.

Always use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound. In this case, "an hour" is the correct way to refer to a period of 60 minutes.

Examples:

  • I'll be there in an hour.
  • It takes an hour to drive to the city.
  • She spent an hour studying for the exam.
  • An hour of exercise a day is recommended.
  • He earns $10 an hour.
  • Anything over five times an hour is considered abnormal.
  • Traveling approximately 50 kilometers an hour.
  • He regained consciousness an hour ago.
  • Maybe an hour before the preservation spell wears off.
  • She came by an hour ago.
  • They stopped here for an hour.
  • I was due home an hour ago.
  • Band started about an hour ago.
  • We talked for almost an hour.
  • The President accepted my resignation an hour ago.
  • Winner gets me for an hour.
  • Perhaps we could give the reward an hour.
  • Report says methane has replaced oxygen tanks an hour before take-off.
  • Their ship docked an hour ago.
  • Took an hour for the Farnsworth.
  • The captain called an hour ago.
  • Shiela wedding is in an hour.
  • Just confirmed one an hour ago.
  • Linehan can wait for an hour.
  • Bears game starts in an hour.

Alternatives:

  • a minute
  • a day
  • an apple
  • a university
  • an umbrella

Related Comparisons

an specific hour vs a specific hour the conception vs a conception this is a egg vs that is a egg half an hour vs half a hour a egg vs an egg termed as vs termed

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