a honest man

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a honest man" is not correct in written English; it should be "an honest man." You can use it when referring to a man who is truthful and trustworthy.
Example: "He is known in the community as an honest man who always keeps his promises."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I'm not sure of how you ended up in your situation, but after what I witnessed you do, I am most definitely sure that you are a honest man with a good heart," Volanda Shields, a donor who gave $1,000, wrote on Harris GiveForwardd page.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Prithviraj Chavan may be a good man, an honest man, an intellectual.

The New York Times

Muslims see in him a great captain, a trainer of men, an honest man, an enemy of all treachery.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A cynic is a person searching for an honest man, with a stolen lantern.

Forbes

"I believe he's an honest man, a fair man and an innocent man.

The New York Times - Sports

He was an honest man with a clean conscience.

The New Yorker

"He's a talented man and an honest man.

The New York Times

He is a good man and an honest man, he was fantastic with me," said Fletcher of Van Gaal.

The Guardian - Sport

"He is an honest man in a community of hypocrisy and nepotism," Mr. Hanson said.

The New York Times

Citizen Skirving [graphic] : secretary to the British Convention, a tried patriot and an honest man / I. Kay fecit 1794.

Yale University

Only Diogenes, it seems, had a rougher time locating an honest man.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound, including "honest". The correct phrase is "an honest man".

Common error

Avoid using "a" before words starting with a vowel sound. It's a common mistake to say "a honest man" instead of the grammatically correct "an honest man". Remember the general rule: 'a' precedes consonant sounds, and 'an' precedes vowel sounds.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions primarily as a noun phrase describing a person. While grammatically incorrect as "a honest man", it aims to characterize someone with the qualities of honesty and integrity. According to Ludwig, the correct form is "an honest man".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a honest man" is a grammatically incorrect construction. The correct form is "an honest man", as "honest" begins with a vowel sound, requiring the article "an". Although the phrase aims to describe a person of integrity, the grammatical error detracts from its effectiveness. Ludwig AI highlights the correct usage and offers alternatives like "a truthful man" or "a man of integrity". Remember to always use "an" before vowel sounds to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an honest man

This corrects the grammatical error by using "an" instead of "a" before the vowel sound.

a truthful man

Replaces "honest" with "truthful" to maintain the meaning while using a different adjective.

a man of integrity

Uses the noun "integrity" to describe the man's character instead of the adjective "honest".

a man of honor

Similar to "a man of integrity", this uses "honor" to describe the man's virtuous nature.

a sincere man

Replaces "honest" with "sincere", suggesting genuineness and authenticity.

a trustworthy man

Focuses on the reliability and dependability aspect of honesty.

a man who is honest

Expands the phrase into a relative clause.

a man of his word

Emphasizes the man's commitment to keeping promises.

a man you can trust

Highlights the characteristic of trustworthiness.

an upright man

Uses "upright" to suggest moral rectitude and honesty.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a honest man"?

The correct way to say it is "an honest man". The article "an" should be used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What's the difference between "a honest man" and "an honest man"?

"A honest man" is grammatically incorrect because "honest" begins with a vowel sound. The correct phrase is "an honest man", where "an" is used before vowel sounds.

What are some alternatives to saying "an honest man"?

You can use alternatives like "a truthful man", "a man of integrity", or "a sincere man" depending on the context.

How can I remember to use "an" instead of "a" before "honest"?

Think of the general rule: use "an" before words that start with a vowel sound. While "h" is a consonant, in "honest", it's often silent, making the "o" the prominent sound. This is why we say "an honest man".