An hour or A hour: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: When writing or speaking, you must use the phrase an hour, not a hour. This rule exists because the letter h in hour is silent, creating a vowel sound at the start. Consequently, the indefinite article an is the only grammatically correct choice for this specific word in any standard English sentence.
The Short Answer
The correct phrase is an hour, and you should never use a hour in formal or informal writing.
Confusion often arises because the letter h is usually pronounced at the start of words, leading writers to expect the article a instead of an.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| an hour | Correct | Always use this form for any duration of sixty minutes. |
| a hour | Incorrect | Never use this form as it violates standard grammar rules. |
| noun | Part of Speech | Used to describe a measurable period of time. |
| global | Usage Region | Accepted in all standard English speaking regions worldwide. |
Correct Example Sentences
- Please wait for an hour before you leave the building.
- It will take an hour to drive to the coast from here.
- She studied for an hour before going to sleep last night.
- If you arrive an hour early, we will have plenty of time.
- The movie was exactly an hour long from start to finish.
- Do not forget to schedule an hour for your daily exercise routine.
- We need an hour of sunlight for the plants to grow properly.
- The train ride lasts about an hour under normal traffic conditions.
- You should save an hour every week to read your favorite books.
- After an hour of running, the athletes felt much more energized.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- We need a hour to fix the computer issues.
- We need an hour to fix the computer issues.
- The meeting was a hour long.
- The meeting was an hour long.
- I will be back in a hour.
- I will be back in an hour.
- She slept a hour last night.
- She slept an hour last night.
- Please give me a hour to think.
- Please give me an hour to think.
- They traveled a hour by bus.
- They traveled an hour by bus.
A Quick Test You Can Use
To verify if your sentence is correct, simply read the word hour aloud to yourself; since the sound produced is a vowel sound, you must use the article an to precede it.
Related Word Pairs
- an honest person
- Use an because the h in honest is silent.
- a unique opportunity
- Use a because the u makes a vowel sound.
- an elephant
- Use an because the e is a vowel sound.
- a one way street
- Use a because the one starts with a y sound.
- an umbrella
- Use an because the u makes a vowel sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a hour considered wrong?
The word hour begins with a silent h, meaning it starts with a vowel sound. English grammar rules dictate that the article an must be used before words that begin with vowel sounds, making a hour incorrect.
Does the rule change for different accents?
No, the rule remains consistent regardless of regional accents. Even in dialects where the h might be emphasized slightly, standard written English always requires the phrase an hour to maintain grammatical correctness.
Can I ever write a hour?
You should never write a hour in any formal or casual context. Using a hour is a common spelling error that appears in many drafts, but correcting it to an hour ensures your writing follows standard English conventions.
What if the h is pronounced in a specific dialect?
Even in dialects where the h in hour is sometimes pronounced, standard English orthography and grammar rules still require the use of an hour. Written language follows established conventions that do not change based on spoken variation.
