A or An?

Okay, I got a question:
Should you use "a" or "an" before the word "usergroup"?

When I read it aloud, I always say "a," but then there's that rule to always add a "n" at the end before any vowel, plus some h's (hour). So, does anyone know of any exceptions to the rule? It's been bothering me for some time now, and nobody I asked seems to know (of course, most of the people I know are either economics or math majors and wouldn't know Shakespeare if he hit them in the face).

Err I dunno the correct answer but I'd always use "A usergroup". It really doesn't make any sense with "An".

Actually using Microsoft Word, it allows "a user" but not "an user". So I think "A" is grammatically correct.

I think this rules is usually done on how it sounds, that's why h sounds are allowed to use "an".

I say "a" too. I think this is grammatically correct because the "u" sounds like a "y" sound. But that's just a guess, so don't quote me on this one.

I'd guess the same... maybe, not really sure, but the whole system probably works on sounds.

Thanks Firestarter, Skye Demon and Eloere! I guess "user" is just one of those weird words...

Er. There was a rule in the grammar book about this.

Like the word 'university'. You use 'a' before it, not 'an'.

Something about... er, long vowel or short vowel, or hard 'u' or soft 'u'. Erm. I never learned what was 'soft' or 'hard', or 'long' or 'short' so I just skipped that part of the book. o.o

I thought it was that you used "an" before a vowel sound. So because "user" begins with the "y" sound, then you say "a".

Duskglimmer took the words right outta my mouth

But then, just to play devil's advocate, you -do- use an, when dealing with hotels and hospitals. An hotel. But then, Americans don't pronounce the h in a word like hotel, do they? Like herb?

We do pronounce the h in hotel. But not in herb.

Its definitely 'A'. You don't pronounce the h in herb? Erb...sounds weird. Sorry! I'm just easily amused...

I don't pronounce the 'h' in herb... Martha Stuart and English people are the only ones I've heard who pronounce it as such. Heehee. "Herb" sounds like a name >.<

You don't pronounce the H in herb? What the....?

Erb? Erb? It sounds like you're trying to be a bad cockney or something.

Erb? *bewildered*

What about herbal? herbaceous? herbicide? herbivore?

Please do not tell me you say Erbivore.

yes we do Firestarter.

I say Erb but I don't say Erbivore...I say Herbivore.