a hospital

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a hospital" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific hospital or any hospital in general. Example: She was rushed to a hospital after the accident.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You're in a hospital".

The New Yorker

Or a hospital.

The New Yorker

In a hospital bed?

Independent

You're a hospital".

The New York Times - Health

In a hospital ward.

Independent

She is in a hospital.

The New York Times

Rush me to a hospital?

The New York Times

A community centre, a hospital.

The New Yorker

He died at a hospital.

The New York Times

Build a hospital.

University of California, Berkeley

You're running a hospital.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about healthcare or medical situations, use "a hospital" to generally refer to any hospital. If you are referring to a specific hospital, use its name.

Common error

Avoid using "the hospital" when you mean any hospital in general. "The hospital" implies a specific hospital already known to the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hospital" functions as a noun phrase, serving as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig confirms its correct usage. Many examples, like "She is in a hospital", demonstrate its role in specifying location or condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

16%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a hospital" is a very common noun phrase used to refer to a medical facility. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, from news and media to academic writing. The phrase generally serves to convey information about medical treatment or care and is considered to have a neutral register, though tending towards the formal. When writing, remember to use "a hospital" to refer to any hospital and avoid using "the hospital" unless you are referring to a specific one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

medical center

Replaces the general term with a more formal alternative.

healthcare center

Focuses on the provision of healthcare services.

medical institution

Formal alternative emphasizing the organized nature of the facility.

health facility

Broader term encompassing various types of medical establishments.

treatment center

Focuses on centers providing specific treatments for various conditions.

clinic

Suggests a smaller, more specialized facility.

acute care facility

Emphasizes facilities for short-term treatment of severe injuries or illnesses.

inpatient facility

Highlights facilities where patients stay overnight.

emergency room

Refers to the department within a hospital for emergency cases.

a place of healing

Emphasizes the hospital's purpose in promoting recovery.

FAQs

How do I use "a hospital" in a sentence?

Use "a hospital" when referring to a general hospital or any hospital in a non-specific way. For example, "She was rushed to "a hospital" after the accident".

What are some alternatives to saying "a hospital"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "medical center", "clinic", or "health facility".

When should I use "the hospital" instead of "a hospital"?

"The hospital" should be used when referring to a specific hospital that has already been mentioned or is otherwise clear from the context. For example, "We visited the hospital where my grandfather was treated".

Is it correct to say "hospital" without the article "a"?

While grammatically correct in certain constructions, such as headings or abbreviated notes, in most cases, it's better to include the article. For instance, instead of "Hospital emergency", use "A hospital emergency" for standard written English.