Completely and totally random question

[isabelladangelo]

This is an English question that has been bugging me for some time. I know the rule of thumb is that if the word begins with a vowel, then you use "an". However, if the word begins with a consonant, you use "a". Hence, you get, "an apple" or "a grape".

Now, there are two words I can think of off the top of my head that do not follow this rule. Hour is certainly one since, although "h" is a consonant, it is also silent so we say "an hour". I get that one. The one I do not get is USB. I saw it written the other day as "a USB" and realized that that is how it's said but I'm not sure why. Is it because it is an acronym? Does anyone know the answer or hazard a guess?

Comments

[kysrinaria.livejournal.com]

I think with USB we us 'a' because it's a physical object. But even that doesn't really explain it, but it's the best guess I can make. think about it. Even with universe, we don't use 'an' we use 'a'.

[maggiebowgirl.livejournal.com]

I always thought it was if the 'u' is pronounced like 'you' (a unicorn) or 'uh' (an underground passage).

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

This.

Acronyms are treated by sound. If we were spelling out USB, it would be Youessbee and thus deserving "an".

[operafantomet.livejournal.com]

I second this, the U is in effect Y, and in English Y is a consonant (or more correctly, half consonant), hence you only get A in front and not AN. Same mechanism as the H sound.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

Okay, that makes sense. Thanks!