a array of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a array of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a large or varied selection of things. For example, "We saw a array of exotic animals at the zoo."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Equally winning, tightly wrapped "purses" of goat cheese and a bit of duck were served on a array of crisp greens with ginger dressing.

The New York Times

They challenged each other's logic and budget numbers, offering a array of charges and countercharges, numbers and statistics, diplomatic catch-phrases, military jargon and economic theories.

The New York Times

(a) Array of parallelogram-shaped Co-1 × 1 unit cells.

Nanoscale Research Letters

For the encoder at the relay, we generate a array of codewords.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

For relay 1, we generate a array of Gaussian codewords of length and power.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Other toxins to fix: a) "Array of toxins," "these toxins" (Abstract).

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

A matrix is an array of numbers.

Elsevier Oceanography Series

Wasps have an array of skills.

Independent

John has an array of sweatshirts.

The New York Times - Sports

Other portals offer an array of content.

The New Yorker

Cue an array of ill-designed shots.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formal or academic writing, carefully review your text for possible grammatical errors and correct them. The most authoritative sources avoid using "a array of".

Common error

A common mistake is using the indefinite article "a" instead of "an" before "array". Remember that "array" starts with a vowel sound, requiring the use of "an" to avoid awkward pronunciation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a array of" functions as a determiner followed by a noun phrase, intended to specify a collection or range of items. However, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct usage is "an array of".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a array of" appears in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that the correct form is "an array of". The intent behind using this phrase is to indicate a diverse collection of items, yet the grammatical error undermines its effectiveness. It's crucial to use "an" instead of "a" before "array" to ensure accuracy and clarity in writing, particularly in formal contexts. When in doubt, consider using alternatives like "a range of" or "a collection of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a range of

Replaces "array" with "range", suggesting a spectrum or scope of items instead of a structured collection. Emphasizes variability.

a collection of

Replaces "array" with "collection", focusing on the act of gathering items together.

a variety of

Replaces "array" with "variety", highlighting the diversity among the items.

a selection of

Replaces "array" with "selection", implying that the items were chosen from a larger group.

an assortment of

Replaces "array" with "assortment", suggesting a diverse mix of items, often implying careful arrangement or organization.

a number of

Replaces "array" with "number", indicating a certain quantity of items, less focused on variety.

a multitude of

Replaces "array" with "multitude", emphasizing a large quantity or great number of items. Highlights abundance.

a host of

Replaces "array" with "host", often implying a large and impressive number of items or entities. Emphasizes impressiveness.

a group of

Replaces "array" with "group", indicating items considered together. Simpler and more general than "array".

a series of

Replaces "array" with "series", indicating items arranged or occurring in a sequence. Emphasizes order.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "a array of"?

The correct way to phrase it is "an array of". The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

Is "a array of" grammatically correct?

No, "a array of" is not grammatically correct. The proper phrasing is "an array of". Using "a" before a word starting with a vowel sound is incorrect in English.

What can I say instead of "a array of"?

While grammatically incorrect, if you meant "an array of", you can use alternatives like "a range of", "a collection of", or "a variety of".

How can I remember to use "an" instead of "a" before "array"?

Think of the acronym AEIOU. If the word following the article starts with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or a vowel sound, use "an". Since "array" starts with a vowel sound, the correct form is "an array of".