I have a pet peeve about how the articles A and An are being used incorrectly; and from news reporters on top of that. I'm not saying I am perfect with the use of the English language, but the wrong use of these simple articles instills extreme frustration in me when I see them used erroneously.
When to use "a" and when to use "an"
Use "a" before nouns and adjectives starting with consonants (examples: a car; a large order). Also use "a" before nouns and adjectives starting with a "u" or an "eu" when the word begins with a consonant 'y' sound (examples: a uniform, a European country)
Use "an" before nouns and adjectives starting with a vowel (examples: an adorable dog, an unusual request). Note the exception above with "u" and "eu."
"A" Versus "An"
This last topic is undoubtedly the easiest, because most non-native speakers already know about the difference between a and an. They are simply two variations of the indefinite article. A is used before words that begin with consonant sounds (a rock, a large park) and an is used before vowel sounds (an interesting subject, an apple).
However, note that the choice of a or an depends on pronunciation, not spelling. Many words that begin with the vowel -u- are preceded by a instead of an because the -u- spelling is often pronounce -yu-, as in useful ("a useful idea"), and uranium ("a uranium isotope"). In addition, in a few words borrowed from French, the initial consonant -h- is not pronounced: an heir to the throne, an hour-long lecture, an honorable agreement, etc.
All the letters in the alphabet are either consonants or vowels.
B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, and Z. Y is sometimes a consonant and sometimes a vowel.
In the word yellow, y is a consonant. In the word happy, y is a vowel.
A, E, I, O, U, and Y (sometimes)
A Strategy for Success
Keep in mind that native speakers of English seldom use articles incorrectly; therefore, any errors that you make are very noticeable and distracting to them. That is why you should make an effort to use articles correctly.
http://www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter/esl.html
 | A/AN |
If the word following begins with a vowel sound, the word you want is “an”: “Have an apple, Adam.” If the word following begins with a consonant, but begins with a vowel sound, you still need “an”: “An X-ray will show whether there's a worm in it.” It is nonstandard and often considered sloppy speech to utter an “uh” sound in such cases.
When the following word definitely begins with a consonant sound, you need “a”: “A snake told me apples enhance mental abilities.”
| AN HISTORIC |
 | A HISTORIC |
You should use “an” before a word beginning with an “H” only if the “H” is not pronounced: “an honest effort”; it’s properly “a historic event” though many sophisticated speakers somehow prefer the sound of “an historic,” so that version is not likely to get you into any real trouble.
here's another word that come to mind:
| ANYWAYS |
| ANYWAY |
“Anyways” at the beginning of a sentence usually indicates that the speaker has resumed a narrative thread: “Anyways, I told Matilda that guy was a lazy bum before she ever married him.” It also occurs at the end of phrases and sentences, meaning “in any case“: “He wasn’t all that good-looking anyways.” A slightly less rustic quality can be imparted to these sentences by substituting the more formal anyway. Neither expression is a good idea in formal written English. The two-word phrase “any way” has many legitimate uses, however: “Is there any way to prevent the impending disaster?”
http://wsu.edu/~brians/errors/anyways.html
In any case, I just want to air these frustrations of mine...
| Silence |  |
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| There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside you. | | | |  |
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| Zora Neale Hurston (1891 - 1960) |
I do remember my dreams when I wake up in the morning and, then go back to sleep. And I would have another dream. I also remember my dream when I am sleeping on my left side.
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