Writing-Editing Tips: Sounds of consonants and vowels

If you pronounce a letter as a letter and it begins with a vowel sound, precede it with an. Consonants with vowel sounds include f, h, l, m, n, r, s and x.

• He flew in an SST. He attended an FDA hearing.

By the same token, if a vowel letter with a consonant sound is pronounced as a letter, you should use a.

• He made a U‑turn.