a experiment in which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a experiment in which" is not correct.
It should be "an experiment in which." You can use it when describing a specific type of experiment or study that involves certain conditions or variables. Example: "The researchers conducted an experiment in which they tested the effects of light on plant growth."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

We also indirectly evaluate the algorithm with a experiment in which we study the atrophy of the brainstem in aging.

NeuroImage

Social influence has been also detected on Youtube in a experiment in which the comments of videos were proven to affect the evaluation of the videos' owners [56].

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

They set up a experiment in which they handed out sheets of bubble wrap to 109 study participants and showed them either slideshows of cute, funny, or neutral-looking animals.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A psychologist named Jerome Bruner, many years ago, conducted an experiment in which a group of cats were placed each in a separate room.

Huffington Post

While Hubbard was in exile, Rathbun told me, he wrote a memo suggesting an experiment in which ascending Scientologists skipped the O.T. III level.

The New Yorker

In 1629, Isaac Beeckman proposed an experiment in which a person observes the flash of a cannon reflecting off a mirror about one mile (1.6 km) away.

Wikipedia

A video at Discovery News describes an experiment in which two groups of students witnessed a man stealing a wallet.

Science Magazine

An "equilibrium climate experiment" is an experiment in which a climate model is allowed to fully adjust to a change in radiative forcing.

FAO

Figure 2B shows the results of an experiment in which both a functional and a nonfunctional promoter were cloned into pClone Basic.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Peter Tse, a neuropsychologist at Dartmouth, demonstrated this in an experiment in which subjects were shown a sequence of flashing dots on a computer screen.

The New York Times

In the April issue of Animal Behaviour, scientists report on an experiment in which they put a pooch in a room with a juicy bone.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "an" instead of "a" before words that begin with a vowel sound, such as "experiment". For example, use "an experiment in which" not "a experiment in which".

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before words that start with a vowel sound. Use "an" instead. Saying "a experiment" is a common mistake; always use "an experiment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a experiment in which" functions as an introductory phrase to describe the design or context of a scientific investigation or test. It sets the stage for outlining specific conditions or variables, as illustrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a experiment in which" is flagged as grammatically incorrect by Ludwig because the correct article to use before "experiment" is "an", not "a". Therefore, the correct phrase is "an experiment in which". Although the phrase is used in various contexts, including science and news, its frequency is rare. To ensure grammatical accuracy, always use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound. Keep in mind using alternative phrases, such as "a study in which" or "a trial in which".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an experiment wherein

Replaces 'in which' with the more formal 'wherein', implying the experiment serves as the context or environment for something.

a study in which

Substitutes "experiment" with "study", offering a slightly broader term for an investigation.

a trial in which

Replaces "experiment" with "trial", suggesting a test or procedure to evaluate something.

a test in which

Substitutes "experiment" with "test", indicating a procedure to determine the quality, performance, or reliability of something.

an investigation in which

Replaces "experiment" with "investigation", implying a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of an incident, allegation, etc. so as to establish the truth.

a demonstration in which

Substitutes "experiment" with "demonstration", indicating a procedure intended to show how something works or to prove a principle.

a scenario where

Offers a more general term, shifting from a structured experiment to a hypothetical situation.

a case in which

Replaces "experiment" with "case", suggesting a specific instance or example being considered.

a setup where

Replaces "experiment" with "setup", indicating the way things are organized or arranged, which could imply a specific context.

a process where

Replaces "experiment" with "process", this change refers to a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.

FAQs

Why is it incorrect to say "a experiment in which"?

The article "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound, while "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. Since "experiment" starts with a vowel sound, the correct phrase is "an experiment in which".

What's the difference between "an experiment in which" and "a study in which"?

"An experiment in which" typically implies a controlled scientific procedure. "A study in which" is a broader term that can encompass various forms of investigation, including experiments, surveys, and observations.

Can I use "a trial in which" instead of "an experiment in which"?

Yes, "a trial in which" can be used as a substitute for "an experiment in which", particularly when referring to a test or evaluation of something. However, "experiment" often implies a more scientific and controlled setting.

How do I use "an experiment in which" in a sentence?

You can use "an experiment in which" to introduce a clause that describes the specific conditions or procedures of an experiment. For example: "The researchers designed an experiment in which they manipulated the temperature to observe its effect on plant growth".