Is it always 'an' before a word beginning with a vowel?

[gameboy]

I am reviewing something for a colleague, and in it she has written, "a unique approach". Intuitively I think this should be 'an unique approach'?

[Salleroo]

I would say she is correct, as it reads better. However these always get me, and I refuse to put an before h, as in an herb.

[Salleroo]

Found this on the net:

"An" goes before all words that begin with vowels:
an apricot
an egg
an Indian
an orbit
an uprising

with two exceptions: When u makes the same sound as the y in you, or o makes the same sound as w in won, then a is used.

a union
a united front
a unicorn
a used napkin
a U.S. ship
a one-legged man

[Anna8888]

It varies with "u, depending on pronunciation. The "an" is only there as an aid to pronunciation, after all.

So:

An unkind man
An unhappy child

A unique approach
A unicorn

[MrsBadger]

Salleroo is spot on

[AccipeHoc]

a unique is correct, because the sound is a Y sound.

[Nagapie]

I think another exception would be the word hour - an hour (so maybe before 'H' if it is silent)

[gameboy]

Yes - that makes sense - thanks.

Nagapie, an hotel is another one of those...

[wheresthehamster]

When an 'H' word is not stressed on the first syllable then 'an' is sometimes used.

an historic moment
an hotel

[wheresthehamster]

And also when the 'H' is silent

an honest man
an honour

[SoupDragon]

Do you not pronounce the H of hotel then??

[MegBusset]

I hate an hotel, an historic etc. It's Hotel not Otel!