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'?

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.

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

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

Salleroo is spot on

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

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

Yes - that makes sense - thanks.

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

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

an historic moment
an hotel

And also when the 'H' is silent

an honest man
an honour

Do you not pronounce the H of hotel then??

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