word choice - Which is correct — "a year" or "an year"?



The word year when pronounced starts with a phonetic sound of e which is a vowel sound making it eligible for being preceded by an. Yet, we tend to write a year. Why?



Answer



I reject your premise that the word year starts with a phonetic sound of e. Here's how it is pronounced according to the various dictionaries:



  • Wiktionary: (RP) IPA: /jiə/, /jɜː/, SAMPA: /ji@/, /j3:/; (US) enPR: yîr, IPA: /jiɹ/, SAMPA: /jir/

  • Merriam-Webster: \ˈyir\

  • American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: /yîr/

  • Collins English Dictionary: /jɪə/


Words that start with the /j/ sound are preceded by an a, not by an an. Compare: a user, a utility, a yak.


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