a important person

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a important person" is not correct in written English.
It should be "an important person" because "important" begins with a vowel sound. Example: "She is an important person in our community, known for her charitable work."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They have shrines for Devin at home and all consider Devin a important person in their lives.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If the person is only the son or daughter or a nephew of an important person, you can't just thrust him on the people".

The New York Times

"Historically, Gavrilo Princip was an important person," says a man emerging from a decorators' shop.

BBC

A Demontage is conspicuous, a very public destruction of an important person's image and status, and it implies an element of glee, lust even.

The Guardian - Sport

If he or she is an important person in a public company you may be able to get a lot of information from the company website.

WikiHow

"Ferguson was a great manager and an important person for the club, and for their fans it was great to have him on the bench.

Independent

"So I say, let me go and study and maybe in the future become an important person, not a housegirl".

Unicef

Brutish soldiers get wind that a certain Mister Pip is an important person in the community.

The New York Times - Books

The architect Francis Duffy described visiting an important person in such an office.

BBC

We felt it was good for our community to feature an important part of -- and an important person in -- our history".

The New York Times

"He's probably not a really big prospect, but he's an important person to have around.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound, such as in the phrase "an important person". This ensures correct grammar and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a" before words that start with a vowel sound. Remember that "important" begins with a vowel sound, so the correct article to use is "an", not "a".

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a noun phrase describing an individual of significance. Ludwig AI flags "a important person" as incorrect, advising the use of "an" instead. The examples from Ludwig demonstrate contexts where individuals hold considerable influence or value within a community.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

13%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a important person" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "an important person". This correction is necessary because the word "important" begins with a vowel sound, requiring the use of the article "an". Ludwig AI identifies this error and provides numerous examples of the correct usage. While the phrase itself is intended to denote someone of significance or influence, its incorrect grammar detracts from its effectiveness. Alternative phrases, such as "significant individual" or "influential figure", can also be used. Predominantly found in News & Media, remember to always use "an" before words starting with a vowel sound to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an important person

Corrects the grammatical error by using the proper article 'an' before the vowel sound.

a significant individual

Replaces "person" with the more formal "individual" and "important" with "significant."

an influential figure

Substitutes "important" with "influential" and "person" with "figure", emphasizing the power to affect others.

a person of consequence

Uses a more formal and emphatic tone to highlight the person's impact.

a key player

Highlights the person's critical role in a specific context or situation.

a prominent figure

Implies widespread recognition and importance.

a person of note

Indicates that the person is worthy of attention or recognition.

a leading light

Suggests the person is an inspiration or guide to others.

a valuable asset

Focuses on the person's worth to an organization or group.

a respected member

Emphasizes the person's high standing within a community or group.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a important person"?

The correct phrasing is "an important person". Use 'an' instead of 'a' before words starting with a vowel sound.

What are some synonyms for "a important person"?

Alternatives include phrases like "significant individual", "influential figure", or "person of consequence".

When should I use the phrase "an important person"?

Use "an important person" when referring to someone who has a significant impact, influence, or value in a particular context or generally.

Is "a important person" grammatically correct?

No, "a important person" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "an important person" because the word "important" begins with a vowel sound.