Ask HN: Spellchecker in Teams just wanted me to use a url instead of an url

I have seen this "exception to the exception" before.

> 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. The word-initial "y" sound ("unicorn") is a glide [j] phonetically, which has consonantal properties; consequently, it is treated as a consonant, requiring "a."

- a union - a united front - a unicorn

Source: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/articles_...

thanks, I figured it was something like that, makes sense.

You're pronouncing an acronym as a word. Say the 3 letters individually.

"URL" is commonly pronounced as an initialism, rather than an acronym, i.e. the letters are pronounced separately (same as in "USA", for example): you - arrr - ell

An SUV, a URL, an RSU, a YMCA... It depends on how you pronounce it, not how it's spelled. Common pitfall even for native speakers.

I don't see it as an exception. Are you pronouncing it as "earl"? I pronounce it as U R L. "a you are ell".