word choice - "Half an hour" versus "half hour"




  1. I'll be back in half an hour.




  2. I'll be back in half hour.




Which is the correct sentence? Are there any differences between British English and American English?



Answer



You could say "a half hour" or "half an hour". The article choice depends on where in a phrase you place it.


Would you ever say "I'll be back in hour"? No, because while possibly legal, the use of the article "an" would be needed to make it sound like a native English speaker.


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