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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a alteration

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a alteration" is not correct in written English.
The correct form is "an alteration" because "alteration" begins with a vowel sound. Example: "The document requires an alteration to reflect the latest changes."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The c.455G > A alteration of the fibrinogen-encoding gene has been found to occur more frequently in homozygous form in patients with large-vessel stroke [ 46].

Hotspot mutation E545K with a nucleotide 1633 G → A alteration in the helical domain at exon 9 of PIK3CA was identified in patient SDC3.

We [ 40] found that the c.1691G > A alteration does not confer risk for stroke alone, but in combination with other unfavorable factors, such as hypertension or diabetes mellitus, it can increase the relative risk of ischemic stroke.

These mechanisms comprise of: (a) Alteration of unisensory structures, (b) Alteration of multisensory structures that interact directly, and (c) Alteration of multisensory structures that are coordinated by a separate multisensory structure.

The c.1691G > A alteration (called the Leiden variant) has been reported to be associated with resistance to degradation by activated protein C. Since then, numerous studies have examined this variant in several conditions that correlate with thromboembolism, but the results were inconsistent regarding the pathological role of this alteration [ 34- 37].

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Sequencing of Rf5 and rf5 identified a single nucleotide T791-to-A alteration at the fourth PPR motif, which results in a nonsense mutation (TAT to TAA) in the HL-CMS line (Hu et al. [2012]).

Science

Rice

The mutations in ura3 -1, ura3 -p, and ura3 -e are the following: G to A at position 701 of URA3, G-to-A change at position 608, and T-to-A alteration at position 170, respectively.

Science

Genetics

The suaB111 mutation was identified as a G-to-A alteration in the anticodon CUG of a glutamine tRNA leading to recognition of UAG as a sense codon (Espeso et al. 2005), but the mechanism of action of the other suppressors has remained unidentified.

When BR-4 containing a V-A or F-A alteration was analyzed for its ability to interact with PP1, a significant decrease was observed in the amount of PP1 that interacted with the BR-4 V-A or F-A GST fusion protein compared to the wild type BR-4 fragment, indicating that this sequence is required to mediate the interaction between BRCA1 and PP1.

Science

BMC Cancer

So they do their A-line skirts, then make an alteration on a neckline.

DesbloqueioBR plans to charge between 250 and 375 dollars to unlock an iPhone, an alteration that may cost service providers big money.

News & Media

TechCrunch
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "an" before "alteration" because "alteration" begins with a vowel sound. For example, use "an alteration" instead of "a alteration".

Common error

Avoid using "a" before words that start with a vowel sound. Remember that the correct phrase is "an alteration", not "a alteration".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

2.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a alteration" is intended to function as a noun phrase, specifying a modification or change. However, this phrasing is grammatically incorrect. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the correct form is "an alteration".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a alteration" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "an alteration" because "alteration" begins with a vowel sound. Ludwig AI confirms this and provides examples of the intended usage. While the contexts where this phrase appears are typically neutral to formal, it's crucial to use the correct article to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. Consider using alternative phrases like "a modification" or "a change" if you're unsure.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a alteration"?

The grammatically correct phrasing is "an alteration" because "alteration" begins with a vowel sound. The article "a" is used before consonant sounds, while "an" is used before vowel sounds.

Can I use "a modification" instead of "an alteration"?

Yes, you can use "a modification" as an alternative. Since "modification" begins with a consonant sound, the article "a" is appropriate.

What are some synonyms for "an alteration"?

Some synonyms include "a change", "a revision", or "an adjustment", depending on the context.

Is "a alteration" ever correct in English?

No, "a alteration" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is always "an alteration" because the word "alteration" starts with a vowel sound.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

2.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: