It’s an heiress. The rule for using "a" or "an" is based on pronunciation. Since "heiress" is a word with a silent "h", it takes the article "an".
It’s an heiress. The rule for using a or an is based on pronunciation. Since "heiress" has a silent "h", it takes the article "an".
Barbara is an heiress of a wealthy family.
Barbara is a heiress of a wealthy family.
It’s the pronunciation, not the spelling, which is relevant.
The movie was about an heiress who meets a liar and her life turns upside down.
Follow the same convention when using other derivatives, such as an heir, an heirloom (a valuable possession that has belonged to a family for many years), or an heirship (the condition of being an heir).
An heir should not be compelled to accept an insolvent estate.
A partial list of words that begin with a silent “h”, and consequently take the article “an”:
- an heir
- an heirloom
- an herb (American English)
- an herbal (American English)
- an honest
- an honor
- an honorable
- an honorarium
- an honorary
- an hour
- an hourly
- an hourglass
