a adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a adequate" is not correct in written English.
The correct article to use before "adequate" is "an" because "adequate" begins with a vowel sound. Example: "The report provided an adequate analysis of the situation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

A: Adequate.

Huffington Post

Each criterion was graded as follows: A: adequate, with correct procedure; B: not described in sufficient detail to allow a definite judgment and C: inadequate procedures, methods, or information.

BMJ Open

US, United States; NL, The Netherlands; UK, United Kingdom; ZA, South Africa; RU, Russia; I, Inadequate; A: Adequate; U, Unclear; NP, Not Performed; NR, Not reported; Funding, Government (G), Industry (Ind).

BMC Health Services Research

I: inadequate; A: adequate; U: unclear; NP: not performed; G: government; Ind.: industry; P: private; nr: not reported aInclusion criteria only bBlinding of outcome assessors cSingle blinding dData analysts partly blinded eIntention to treat strategies to deal with missing data Twenty-five different measures of the course of disease were reported for a wide range of conditions (Table  3).

Human Resources for Health

The inclusion criteria were as follows: a positive result for HBsAg examination, naïve anti-HBV treatment before the current TACE, adequate baseline liver function (Child-Pugh grade A), adequate renal function (serum creatinine < 124 μmol/L), proper baseline Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) grades (scores 0 2), and well tolerance of TACE.

Chinese Journal of Cancer

On this basis, studies were given a rating of A (adequate randomization and concealment), B (unclear), and C (inadequate).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Writing with a pencil necessitates an adequate eraser.

TechCrunch

That team had a great defense and an adequate offense.

The New York Times - Sports

A letter can be an adequate substitute.

British Journal of Cancer

"I would have an adequate amount for an adequate lifestyle for 10 years," he said.

The New York Times

A prerequisite for this is an adequate IT system.

Business Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "an" before "adequate" because "adequate" begins with a vowel sound. Correct usage ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a" before "adequate". The correct article is "an" because "adequate" starts with a vowel sound. Using "a" is a common grammatical mistake that can detract from your writing's credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a adequate" functions as an adjectival phrase aiming to describe a noun. However, it is grammatically incorrect because of the inappropriate use of the indefinite article. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct article to use before "adequate" is "an".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a adequate" appears in various contexts, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "an adequate", as "adequate" begins with a vowel sound. Ludwig AI emphasizes this point. Although examples of the incorrect phrase exist, they should be considered errors rather than accepted usage. To ensure clarity and credibility in writing, always use "an" before "adequate".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an adequate

Corrects the article to "an" to match the vowel sound at the beginning of "adequate".

a sufficient

Replaces "adequate" with "sufficient", maintaining a similar meaning of being enough or satisfactory.

an acceptable

Replaces "adequate" with "acceptable", indicating something meets a required standard.

a satisfactory

Uses "satisfactory" instead of "adequate", emphasizing that something is good enough to meet a need.

a reasonable

Uses "reasonable" to suggest the level is fair or appropriate.

an ample

Replaces "adequate" with "ample", suggesting there is more than enough.

a competent

Uses "competent" to indicate something meets the necessary requirements or skills.

a passable

Replaces "adequate" with "passable", meaning it's just good enough to pass or be accepted.

a tolerable

Employs "tolerable" to indicate something is acceptable, though perhaps not ideal.

a standard

Uses "standard" to convey that something meets a minimum requirement or benchmark.

FAQs

Why is "a adequate" grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "a adequate" is incorrect because the word "adequate" begins with a vowel sound. English grammar requires the article "an" before words starting with a vowel sound. The correct phrase is "an adequate".

What are some alternatives to saying "a adequate"?

Since "a adequate" is grammatically incorrect, you should use "an adequate" instead. Depending on the context, you might also consider phrases like "a sufficient" or "an acceptable".

How do I remember to use the correct article before "adequate"?

A helpful rule is to use "an" before words that start with a vowel sound, not just a vowel letter. Since "adequate" starts with a vowel sound, "an" is the correct choice. Think of similar words like "apple" or "energy", which also require "an".

Is there a difference between "adequate" and "sufficient"?

While "adequate" and "sufficient" are often used interchangeably, "sufficient" may imply a higher degree of being enough. "Adequate" suggests just meeting the requirement, while "sufficient" suggests more than enough. For example, "an adequate" supply might just cover needs, whereas "a sufficient" supply would cover needs and have some left over.