Expert: AliMcJ - 7/9/2004

Question
When writing, should "a" or "an" be used before a noun that begins with a consenant but sounds like a vowel.  For example, should I write, "He was a NFL quarterback" or "He was an NFL quarterback"?

Answer
You have hit on the exact reason for a/an choice -- the pronunciation.  The "n" just closes off the "a" sound before another sound with mouth open (vowel).

For this reason, we also say "a university:"  the "u" is a vowel, but the sound it makes is not; "an unusual day" has the open vowel sound, and so requires "an" for "closure."

a National Football League quarterback
and
an NFL quarterback   are your correct choices.

Good ear for "grammar!"