a certain awkward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain awkward" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and would typically need a noun to follow, such as "a certain awkwardness." Example: "There was a certain awkwardness in the room after the unexpected silence."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

There's a certain awkward charm to the "Before" scenes, in which she assembles a group of musical misfits to play in a bluegrass band, but not enough to keep disbelief at bay.

The New York Times - Books

There always seems to be a certain awkward disjoint between that colossal money machine and everything else Google does.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Her new status became necessary, she explains, "because certain awkward moments arise when those who work with the president constantly meet the president's daughter . . .

The Economist

The decision to nurture former step-relationships can mean accepting certain awkward situations, like waiting in the same hospital as your former husband while your former stepdaughter-in-law gives birth to a baby who would have been your stepgrandchild.

The New York Times

The exhibition has thrilling examples of this excellence, gathered from museums in America, Italy, Greece and the Balkans.But anyone who overstresses Byzantium's continuity will struggle to cope with certain awkward "interruptions"—like the fact that 1,000 years ago, the word "Hellene" was used only in a negative sense, to denote someone who preferred paganism to Christianity.

The Economist

But the aspirants must grow comfortable with a certain quantity of awkward pretense.

The New Yorker

Though I have repeatedly asked the company to return to this city, I doubt that my requests and constant jokes concerning mud, a certain tent, and an awkward visit to Microsoft's campus mattered either.

TechCrunch

"Music has generally involved a lot of awkward contraptions, a certain amount of heavy lifting," he says.

The Guardian - Music

In this one, we see the same man, this time with a certain pleasing, New Age aura, less awkward in his pose this time, surrounded by a strange and sectarian assortment of what seem to be hippies and monks.

The Guardian - Books

That can just be kind of awkward after a certain amount of time.

WikiHow

These conversations were different somehow, with fewer awkward silences, more energy and a certain daydreamy quality (well, not with the fence guy).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always follow "a certain" with a noun that describes the quality or state you are referring to. For example, use "a certain awkwardness" instead of "a certain awkward".

Common error

Avoid using "a certain awkward" without a noun. This construction leaves the sentence unfinished and grammatically incorrect. Always specify what kind of awkwardness you are referring to by adding a noun after 'awkward'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain awkward" functions as an adjective phrase requiring a noun to modify, but in its standalone form, it's grammatically incomplete. Ludwig AI indicates it requires a noun to follow. Examples show it often precedes words like "charm" or "quantity", further emphasizing the need for a noun.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a certain awkward" appears in some contexts, it's grammatically incomplete and requires a noun to follow, such as "awkwardness", to be correct. Ludwig AI flags the phrase as requiring a noun to complete its meaning. News and media sources provide some examples of its usage, but it's recommended to use more grammatically sound alternatives like "a particular awkwardness" or "a degree of unease" for clarity and correctness. When aiming for professional or formal writing, ensure you complete the phrase or use an alternative. Since examples are rare, consider more standard phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a particular awkwardness

Replaces "certain awkward" with "particular awkwardness", using a more grammatically sound structure by including the noun form.

a specific awkward situation

Substitutes the general term with a more precise description, specifying a situation and using 'specific' for 'certain'.

a definite awkwardness

Emphasizes the awkwardness with 'definite', providing a stronger assertion.

some level of awkwardness

Indicates a degree of awkwardness, making the statement less absolute.

a degree of unease

Shifts the focus from 'awkward' to 'unease', offering a more formal synonym.

a slight discomfort

Replaces 'awkward' with 'discomfort', softening the intensity of the feeling.

a kind of clumsiness

Uses 'clumsiness' to convey a lack of grace or social skill, related to awkwardness.

a touch of unease

Similar to 'a degree of unease', but with a lighter touch.

a sense of discomfort

Focuses on the feeling of discomfort rather than the awkwardness itself.

a hint of awkwardness

Suggests a subtle awkwardness, less pronounced than the original phrase.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "a certain awkward" in a sentence?

The phrase "a certain awkward" needs a noun to complete its meaning. Use "a certain awkwardness" or replace it with phrases like "a particular awkwardness".

What's a better alternative to "a certain awkward"?

Consider using phrases like "a specific awkward situation", "a degree of unease", or "a slight discomfort" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a certain awkward"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The phrase requires a noun to follow, such as "awkwardness", "moment", or "situation".

What is the difference between "a certain awkward" and "a certain awkwardness"?

"A certain awkward" is an incomplete phrase, while "a certain awkwardness" is grammatically correct because it includes the noun form of 'awkward', specifying the quality being described.