a comatose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a comatose" is not correct in standard English usage. It should be used as "comatose" without the article "a" when describing a state. An example could be: "He lay comatose in the hospital bed." Alternative expressions include "unconscious" and "in a coma."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's well known that a comatose brain can be kept alive for at least decades.

MIT Technology Review

Her winning work, "Interloper," consists of a comatose man's mental journey.

The New York Times

Now it seems, with Elena in a comatose state, Dan is just alone.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He was lucky to survive: the accident left him in a comatose state for several days.

The New Yorker

Dead computers locked away phone numbers like memories within a comatose brain.

The New York Times

Conclusions: In this small cohort, level of coma on admission was not predictive of recovery from a comatose state.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The main symptom of this sleeping sickness was a comatose state that could last for months or even years.

The New York Times

Before this technique, neurologists could start to ascertain prognosis in a comatose patient even by day three.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Mets were back home yesterday beating the bushes for a hitter to energize a comatose offense.

The New York Times - Sports

The story is based on Kay's own experience of finding a comatose white boxer by the side of the road.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

a comatose survivor?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase metaphorically to describe systems or organizations that are stagnant, such as "a comatose" economy or offense.

Common error

Do not use the article "a" when using the word as a standalone adjective after a linking verb. Write "the patient was comatose" instead of "the patient was a comatose". The latter requires a trailing noun to be grammatically correct.

Linguistic Context

In the examples provided by Ludwig, "a comatose" serves as an attributive adjectival phrase segment. It consists of an indefinite article followed by a qualitative adjective. It essentially acts as a modifier that requires a head noun to form a complete constituent in a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, while Ludwig AI notes that "a comatose" is technically an incomplete fragment if left on its own, it is a highly frequent and essential part of English syntax when followed by a noun. It appears most often in high-authority journalistic and scientific writing to describe medical states or metaphorical inactivity. Writers should be careful not to use it as a standalone predicate (e.g., "he was a comatose") but rather as a modifier for head nouns like "state", "patient" or "brain". The phrase is most interchangeable with "in a coma" or "unconscious", depending on the desired level of clinical precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a coma

Uses a prepositional structure to describe the state directly rather than using an attributive adjective.

an unconscious

Replaces the specific medical term with a more general adjective for lack of awareness.

a non-responsive

Uses clinical terminology often used in emergency medicine to describe a similar patient state.

a vegetative

Refers to a specific type of long-term unconsciousness where basic functions remain but awareness is absent.

a semiconscious

Indicates a state of partial awareness rather than total unconsciousness.

a catatonic

Describes a state of physical immobility and behavioral abnormality associated with psychiatric conditions.

a stuporous

Refers to a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility.

a brain-dead

A much more severe medical legal definition involving the permanent cessation of all brain function.

an insensate

A more formal or literary term meaning lacking physical sensation or the power to react.

a lethargic

Describes extreme sluggishness or lack of energy rather than true medical unconsciousness.

FAQs

Is "a comatose" correct in a sentence?

Yes, "a comatose" is correct when it functions as a modifier for a noun. Examples found in Ludwig include "a comatose patient" or "a comatose state".

What is the difference between "a comatose" and "comatose"?

"Comatose" is an adjective. You use "a comatose" when you are identifying a specific noun (like a person or state), whereas you use "comatose" alone as a description after a verb, such as "he is comatose".

Can "a comatose" be used metaphorically?

Yes, it is often used in sports or business to describe inactivity. For example, The New York Times mentions energizing "a comatose offense".

What can I say instead of "a comatose" person?

You can use alternatives like "an unconscious" person, "a non-responsive" patient or simply say the individual is "in a coma".