Are there exceptions to the rule for when to use "a" vs "an"?

The rule for 'a' or 'an' isn't dependent upon the actual first letter of the word, but the actual SOUND of the first letter of the word.

For instance, 'M.B.A.' is pronounced 'Emm Bee Aye'. The 'M' is pronounced with a vowel sound. 'Memory' is pronounced with a consonant sound. So, it would be 'an M.B.A' and 'a memory'.

Consider the letter 'U'. In 'umbrella', it is a vowel sound, so 'an umbrella'. However, 'ukulele' (usually pronounced 'yoo-kuh-LAY-lee') begins with a consonant sound, so it would 'a ukulele'.

So, if the first letter is pronounced like a vowel, it is 'an'. If it is pronounced like a consonant, it is 'a'.

There are exceptions to many rules of grammar. A vs. AN is no exception to the rule of exceptions.

AN HOUR. AN Honest mistake. AN M.B.A.

Also, hard pronunciation of 'U' is an exception. You can say "AN Umbrella," but you have to use 'a' before a hard 'u', or 'hard U' sounding word. For example: "A euphemism. A Unanimous decision. He is A UCLA Graduate." (Often, people say the 'A' differently when it comes to acronyms. If you say a long 'A', it will sound like part of the acronym, and people will think you just said, 'A.U.C.L.A.' which isn't the case. So often times, people will pronounce 'A' to sound like 'uh,' or 'ah', depending on their dialect).

These grammar rules predate the invention of the printing press, where most people spoke to communicate. Yeah, yeah, I know, people wrote letters - but things like consistency in spelling and consistency in narrative or articles didn't really evolve into consistent rules until after the printing press. That's why hand-written stuff, like letters, and archaic poems and such ... all have really strange spellings of various words.

The "A vs AN" rules applied to a method of speaking. In England, Scotland, Ireland, Whales, New Zealand and Australia, where an 'H' is silent, the rule will apply to the dialect.

For example: "Oi, e's an 'arvard graduate, e is!" Meanwhile, in America, and some educated-sounding English dialects, they will pronounce the 'h' in Harvard, so that they say, "A HARVARD GRADUATE."

So if you're ever unsure while writing a paper, just sound the word out, aloud. If you're not sure how the word should be pronounced, Google its definition. You'll get the phonetic, the part of speech, and all sorts of useful information on the word.

There. More information than you could ever need. Relevant stuff at the top, semi-relevant background information and history at the bottom, for those like my wife who like looking up the etymology of just about everything under the sun, lol.

*nerdy voice* Got any cheese?

#NerdCore

You use the one that works for how the acronym will be pronounced. I'd use an M.B.A in the example you give. If someone is reading it out loud and wishes to read M.B.A as Master of Business Administration, you hope they will have the wit to also change an to a.

"a" before a consonant, "an" before a vowel. this is your answer.

An M.B.A. from Harvard

A Master's of Business Administration from Harvard.

the issue here is how we pronounce the letter 'M'. "M" by itself is pronounced "em" - the e is your vowel sound, hence "an". "M" as the 1st letter of a word is pronounced "m" - a consonant sound, hence the use of 'a'

I am not aware of any exceptions.

Grammatically , in case of a a vowel we use AN, and in case of a consonant we use A, but M.B.A. is an abbreviation ( like em bi ei) so you use AN M.B.A....

A An Rule

I agree.. However,newbies or not, it's still kind of funny too see a Question like Fall Out Boy vs Led Zeppelin? Who's the better band??

I LIKE( HE JUST GOT A M.B.A. FROM HARVARD.) BUT YOU CAN CHANGE WORDS LIKE (HE'S GOT A M.B.A. FROM HARVARD.) OR (HE JUST GOT HIS M.B.A. FROM HARVARD.) BUT ITS UP TO YOU.

that is tough. I would use an in this situation