a certain article

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain article" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific article that is not named or when the speaker wants to imply that the article is known to the audience. Example: "In the discussion, she referenced a certain article that highlighted the importance of climate change awareness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"I asked him whether he'd seen a certain article, and he said: 'No, send it my way.

The New York Times

According to a certain article in a Sunday Times supplement magazine last weekend, "British Jewishness has suddenly become a hip cultural talking point".

The Guardian

One of the most common problems was running out of a certain article of clothing and having to direct customers to other stores, which in turn lost us business, which in turn meant less hours to work.

TechCrunch

This mimics the situation of a consumer who wants to buy a certain article without SVHCs and who does not want to wait again up to 45 days if the first article response declared the presence of SVHCs.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Reasonable diligence would furthermore include the duty to consider information in the press, data published by consumer organizations, news about article recalls due to SVHCs, or knowledge about the expected presence of SVHCs in a certain article group or material.

Environmental Sciences Europe

The team was neither impressed with an approach purely based on how popular a post was on social networks (what does it really mean, after all, when a story gets 500 Facebook likes?) and its forays into purely algorithmic solutions similar to Zite also didn't quite pan out because its beta testers were never quite sure why they were seeing a certain article.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Earlier we shared research about how wearing certain article of dress might impact one's own physical behaviors.

Fashion and Textiles

It's been a controversy in certain articles I've read but it's also memorable and that's always good, be it negative or positive because it sticks in somebody's brain.

Huffington Post

It is a strange thing how certain articles linger.

The Guardian - Music

"I put a reserve only on certain articles, and they have to be expensive," said Tom LeClair, who, with his sister, Missy, runs the Clearing House Auction Galleries, which his parents started 47 years ago in Wethersfield, Conn.

The New York Times

It's a small marker that labels certain articles as "disputed news," indicating that the content within the article is questionable in accuracy or reliability.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a certain article" when you want to refer to a specific document or item without explicitly naming it. This can be useful for creating a sense of mystery or when the exact title is not important.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain article" excessively if you can provide a specific reference. Overuse can make your writing sound vague and less credible. When possible, replace it with a specific title or a more descriptive phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain article" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a particular, though unnamed, item. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and commonly used. It points to a specific article without explicitly mentioning its title.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a certain article" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to refer to a specific article without directly naming it. As Ludwig AI's analysis highlights, it's suitable for a variety of writing styles and can be used to create a sense of mystery, imply shared knowledge, or simply because the specific title is unimportant. While versatile, it's best to avoid overuse and replace it with a more specific reference when clarity is paramount. It commonly appears in "News & Media", "Science", and "Wiki" sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a particular article

Replaces 'certain' with 'particular', emphasizing a specific instance.

a specific article

Substitutes 'certain' with 'specific', highlighting definiteness.

a given article

Uses 'given' instead of 'certain', suggesting something already established or mentioned.

a notable article

Replaces 'certain' with 'notable', emphasizing the article's significance.

a distinct article

Substitutes 'certain' with 'distinct', pointing out its unique character.

a selected article

Uses 'selected' instead of 'certain', highlighting a choice or picking out.

a designated article

Replaces 'certain' with 'designated', indicating it was officially chosen.

a aforementioned article

Substitutes 'certain' with 'aforementioned', referencing something previously mentioned.

an unspecified article

Uses 'unspecified' to indicate that the specific article isn't being identified.

a relevant article

Replaces 'certain' with 'relevant', pointing out its direct connection to the topic at hand.

FAQs

How can I use "a certain article" in a sentence?

You can use "a certain article" to refer to a specific piece of writing without naming it directly. For example: "The findings were supported by "a certain article" I read last week."

What can I say instead of "a certain article"?

Alternatives include "a specific article", "a particular article", or "an unspecified article", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "a certain article" or "a specific article"?

Both "a certain article" and "a specific article" are grammatically correct. "A specific article" may sound more direct, while "a certain article" can imply the audience is already familiar with the article.

What's the difference between "a certain article" and "some article"?

"A certain article" suggests a particular, identifiable article, while "some article" implies that the article is just one of many possible articles. "A certain article" also assumes that both speaker and listener are aware of which one you are referring to, while some article just highlights a piece of writing but not necessarily anything important.