a excellent example

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a excellent example" is not correct in written English.
It should be "an excellent example" because "excellent" begins with a vowel sound. Example: "This is an excellent example of teamwork in action."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Most decent AirPlay speakers will cost you somewhere around $400 anyway (the Audyssey Audio Dock Air is a excellent example), but the Libratone brings a lot to the table for its extra $50, even if you're just looking at the direct AirPlay connection feature.

TechCrunch

Postgraduate medical education is an unique setting in which patient care, teaching and learning are interconnected to each other and can't be seen separately; i.e. PGME is a excellent example of learning in a workplace setting [ 2].

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A Song for Dan Treacy is an excellent example of a band jamming to promote, not destruct.

The Guardian - Music

David Lavery, a television scholar, called the show "an excellent example of a Bakhtinian dialogical text".

The New Yorker

A library is an excellent example of desktop/file/folder scaling.

The New York Times - Tech

Foreign exchange is an excellent example of a global market.

The Economist

It is an excellent example of a top pair of defenders in action.

The New York Times

I thought this was an excellent example of a thank-God-for-divorce tale.

The New York Times

Wikipedia is an excellent example of a site with evergreen content.

TechCrunch

This is an excellent example of a public-private partnership working to strengthen U.S. manufacturing.

Huffington Post

Slides 8-11 anexcellentllexamplemple of a deep understanding of the beneficiaries.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound, such as "excellent". Double-check your article usage, especially in formal writing, to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "a" before words that start with a vowel sound; use "an" instead. While seemingly minor, this error can detract from your writing's credibility. Remember the rule: vowel sounds take "an", consonant sounds take "a".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a excellent example" functions as a noun phrase intended to identify a specific instance as being of high quality. However, Ludwig AI points out that it is grammatically incorrect due to the incorrect article usage. The correct form is "an excellent example."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

36%

Encyclopedias

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a excellent example" is frequently used to emphasize the high quality or representativeness of something. However, as Ludwig AI clearly indicates, the correct grammatical form is "an excellent example". This correction is necessary because "excellent" begins with a vowel sound, requiring the use of "an" instead of "a". While various sources demonstrate the phrase's usage across contexts like news and science, adhering to proper grammar enhances clarity and credibility. Alternatives like "a prime example" or "a perfect example" can be used for variety, but ensuring correct article usage remains crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an excellent example

Corrects the grammatical error by using the correct article "an" before the vowel sound.

a prime example

Replaces "excellent" with "prime", offering a different adjective with a similar meaning.

a perfect example

Substitutes "excellent" with "perfect", suggesting an ideal instance.

a fine example

Replaces "excellent" with "fine", indicating a good quality instance.

an outstanding example

Replaces "excellent" with "outstanding", signifying a superior example.

a very good example

Replaces "excellent" with "very good", a more general term of high quality.

a notable example

Substitutes "excellent" with "notable", highlighting the significance of the example.

a shining example

Replaces "excellent" with "shining" to highlight the positive qualities of the example.

a textbook example

Implies that the example is so good it is often used in textbooks as guidance.

a classic illustration

Replaces example with illustration using a slightly different noun that conveys the same meaning.

FAQs

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

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

Are there other ways to say "a excellent example" that are grammatically correct?

Yes, you can use phrases like "a prime example", "a perfect example", or "a fine example".

When should I use "an" instead of "a"?

Use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u) and "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound. For example, "an apple" versus "a banana".

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

"A excellent example" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "an excellent example", where "an" is used because "excellent" begins with a vowel sound.