a certain facility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain facility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific place or resource that is not named or is somewhat vague. Example: "The researchers conducted their experiments at a certain facility known for its advanced technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The medical profession, speaking of spin doctors, has also displayed a certain facility for it.

The New York Times

LA Turnaround, Bert Jansch (1974) I already had a certain facility and knew what I wanted to do.

The Guardian - Music

As you can plainly observe, I have a certain facility for extemporizing (a line young Turturro delivers as if he were lip syncing).

The New York Times - Sports

Some people have gained a certain facility, I suppose, from endless scales and studies, but that's not the same as acquiring a great technique.

The Guardian - Books

I said that I hadn't drawn anything for ten years, but he made me do it, and I discovered that, with the pressure off, I had a certain facility for it.

The New Yorker

Many of the products can only be produced at a certain facility, and in some cases, the overlap that exists is not properly spatially dispersed.

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In "Logan Lucky, Soderberghh, for all his felicitous exertions, falls back on a certain artistic facility.

The New Yorker

Two-echelon logistics distribution region partitioning is a critical step to optimize two or multi-echelon logistics distribution network, and it aims to assign distribution unit to a certain logistics facility (i.e. logistic center and distribution center).

Expert Systems with Applications

Given the dependence on carbonization grade and temperature, it follows that a certain dispensing facility is dedicated only for type of beers with, at least approximately, the same carbonization grade and serving temperature.

WikiHow

In addition, the system sends an alert to security personnel when the hand-held device crosses certain facility boundaries [ 83].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The Corporate segment consists of unallocated general and administrative activities and associated expenses, including in part, executive, legal, finance, information technology, human resources, certain facility costs and LIFO inventory provisions.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a certain facility" when you want to refer to a specific location without explicitly naming it, either because the name is not important, not known, or should be kept confidential.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain facility" too frequently in a single document, as it can make your writing sound vague and less informative. Try to provide more specific details or use alternative phrasing if possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain facility" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "facility". It introduces an element of indefiniteness or generality. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a certain facility" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for referring to a specific but unnamed place. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct for general use. The phrase appears most commonly in news media and scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral level of formality. While acceptable, aim for more specific language when possible to enhance clarity. If you want to avoid this term, consider using "a specific facility" or "a particular facility".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a specific facility

Replaces "certain" with "specific", emphasizing a particular, well-defined facility.

a particular facility

Substitutes "certain" with "particular", indicating a distinct or individual facility.

a designated facility

Uses "designated" instead of "certain", suggesting the facility has been officially chosen for a purpose.

a given facility

Employs "given" to imply the facility is already known or established within a context.

a known facility

Replaces "certain" with "known", highlighting that the facility is recognized or familiar.

an unspecified facility

Uses "unspecified" to indicate that the facility is not being explicitly identified.

an unnamed facility

Replaces "certain" with "unnamed", emphasizing that the facility lacks a specific name in the context.

a select facility

Employs "select" to suggest the facility is chosen or of high quality.

a precise location

Shifts the focus from the facility itself to its exact geographical position.

a determined location

Uses "determined" suggesting the location was decided beforehand.

FAQs

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

You can use "a certain facility" when you want to refer to a particular place or resource without being specific. For example: "The experiment was conducted at "a certain facility" outside the city."

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

You can use alternatives like "a specific facility", "a particular facility", or "a designated facility" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a certain facility" instead of naming the facility?

It's appropriate when the name of the facility is not important to the context, when it's confidential, or when the speaker doesn't know the exact name.

Is "a certain facility" formal or informal language?

The phrase "a certain facility" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.