It’s an hourglass. The word hourglass begins with a silent "h", so it takes the article "an".
It’s an hourglass. When choosing between "a" and "an", the way you pronounce the following word, not the spelling, shows you which one you must choose. The word hourglass begins with a silent "h", so it takes the article "an".
An hourglass is a device used to measure the passage of time.
A hourglass is a device used to measure the passage of time.
More examples:
How accurate can an hourglass be?
The best way to get an hourglass figure is through exercise and dietary changes.
A partial list of words that begin with a silent "h", and consequently take the article "an":
- an heir
- an heiress
- an heirloom
- an herb (American English)
- an herbal (American English)
- an honest
- an honor
- an honorable
- an honorarium
- an honorary
- an hour
- an hourly
