a excellent character

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a excellent character" is not correct in English.
It should be "an excellent character." You can use the corrected phrase when describing someone who possesses admirable qualities or traits. Example: "She is known for her excellent character, always helping others in need."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Jyn sounds like a excellent character to play ― and watch ― to us.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Travis Fickett of IGN said he was happy to see an episode centered around Randy Marsh, who he said is an excellent character; Fickett said of "Pinewood Derby", "This isn't a great episode but its fast-paced lunacy in the South Park tradition and most of the genre tropes it riffs on are dead on".

Wikipedia

A scroll on the table says "Thurtell shown to be craniologically an excellent character.

BBC

"It is an excellent character, but they want speed".

The New Yorker

"I felt it was an excellent character win for our football team, something we talked about at halftime," McCarthy said.

The New York Times - Sports

Dean is also an excellent character, someone who is almost completely vacuous but still believes his own hype.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Cal is also an excellent character and Dancy brings him to dark fruition with his brooding stares and too-broad smiles that mask a creepy streak.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

After all, when he isn't in Mad Hatter mode and doesn't have a bird on his head (as when he was playing Tonto in The Lone Ranger), Depp is an excellent character actor.

Independent

Still, if you wanted to write an indictment of statistics as an instrument of authoritarian states, and if you had a great deal of other evidence to support that indictment — including other stories and, ideally, numbers — why yes, Gini would be an excellent character to introduce in Chapter 1.

The New Yorker

He's an excellent character," said Wolves boss Kenny Jackett told the club website. .

BBC

The modifier, PtNPs doped MWCNTs (PtNPs/MWCNTs), was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical method which showed an excellent character for electrocatalytic oxidization of PRO.

Electrochimica Acta

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound, even if the letter is a consonant (e.g., "an hour"). Remember that it's about the sound, not the letter.

Common error

Don't mistakenly use "a" before words starting with a vowel sound. Even if the word starts with a consonant but has a vowel sound, use "an". For instance, use "an MBA" instead of "a MBA".

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. Specifically, the adjective "excellent" aims to describe the qualities or attributes of the "character". As Ludwig AI states, the correct form is "an excellent character."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

27%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a excellent character" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "an excellent character". This correction is necessary because "excellent" begins with a vowel sound, requiring the use of "an" instead of "a". Ludwig AI underscores this grammatical point. While examples of the incorrect phrase appear across various sources, including news media and scientific publications, adhering to proper grammar is essential for clear and effective communication. The phrase is used to express admiration for someone's personality or moral qualities, and several alternatives exist to convey this sentiment, such as "a remarkable character" or "an outstanding character".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a remarkable character

Replaces "excellent" with "remarkable", emphasizing the uniqueness and distinction of the character.

an outstanding character

Uses "outstanding" instead of "excellent", highlighting the exceptional nature of the character.

a person of integrity

Focuses on the moral aspect of the character, emphasizing honesty and strong moral principles.

a commendable individual

Replaces "character" with "individual" and uses "commendable" to express approval and admiration.

a virtuous person

Emphasizes the moral excellence and righteousness of the individual.

a respectable figure

Highlights the esteem and honor the person commands from others.

a person with strong moral fiber

Focuses on the inner strength and resilience of the character's moral compass.

a model citizen

Highlights the person's adherence to societal norms and their contribution to the community.

a paragon of virtue

Presents the person as an ideal example of moral excellence.

an exemplary human being

Focuses on the overall positive qualities and behavior that make the person a role model.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a excellent character"?

The correct phrasing is "an excellent character". The article "an" should be used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What are some alternatives to saying someone is "an excellent character"?

You could describe them as "a remarkable character", "an outstanding character", or "a person of integrity", depending on the specific qualities you want to emphasize.

Is it ever correct to use "a" before the word "excellent"?

No, it is never correct. "Excellent" begins with a vowel sound, so it always requires the article "an", not "a". Therefore, the correct phrase is always "an excellent character".

What's the difference between "a good character" and "an excellent character"?

"Good" suggests a basic level of positive qualities. "An excellent character" implies a higher degree of admirable traits and moral strength. The phrases also differ grammatically, "an excellent character" being the correct option because of the vowel sound, and "a good character" also being grammatically correct.