a important question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a important question" is not correct in written English.
It should be "an important question." You can use it when referring to a question that holds significance or relevance in a discussion or context. Example: "During the meeting, I raised an important question about our project timeline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Meanwhile, this situation raises a important question: How can very smart, accomplished people do such stupid things?

Harvard Business Review

Whether the single observation of this duplication in a castaneus mouse is the result of gene flow between domesticus and castaneus populations or indicates that the duplication predates the divergence of these two populations is a important question that cannot be immediately resolved given the current data.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"She has put a finger on an important question.

Princeton University

Upwardly Mobile gives an interesting perspective on an important question.

The New York Times

TRUMP: Just a minute, because it's an important question.

The New York Times

It is an important question.

The Economist

The lists lead to an important question.

The New York Times

Which leads us to an important question.

Independent

Wrong, but an important question, is okay.

The Economist

This is an important question indeed.

The New York Times

This is an important question.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct article "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound. For example, it's "an important question", not "a important question."

Common error

Avoid using the article "a" before adjectives that precede nouns starting with a vowel sound. The correct article to use in these cases is "an".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a important question" functions as a noun phrase, specifically intending to introduce a question of significance. However, it's grammatically flawed. Ludwig's AI identifies it as incorrect and suggests the proper form is "an important question."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the intent behind the phrase "a important question" is clear, it's grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "an important question". Ludwig AI flags it as such. Although examples exist across various domains such as news, science, and academia, the incorrect grammar impacts its overall quality and suitability for formal use. Remember to use "an" before words starting with a vowel sound to ensure grammatical correctness and maintain clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an important question

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

a crucial question

Replaces "important" with "crucial", emphasizing the critical nature of the question.

a key question

Substitutes "important" with "key", highlighting the question's central relevance.

a significant question

Uses "significant" instead of "important", underscoring the question's notable impact.

a vital question

Replaces "important" with "vital", indicating the question's essential importance.

a central question

Uses "central" instead of "important" to focus on the question's core position.

a pressing question

Replaces "important" with "pressing", emphasizing the urgency of the question.

a relevant question

Substitutes "important" with "relevant", highlighting the question's pertinence.

a noteworthy question

Replaces "important" with "noteworthy", emphasizing that the question is worth paying attention to.

a considerable question

Uses "considerable" instead of "important" to convey the question's substantial nature.

FAQs

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

The grammatically correct way to phrase "a important question" is to use "an important question". The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What are some alternatives to "a important question" that emphasize significance?

While grammatically incorrect, if you intend to highlight the significance, consider using phrases like "a crucial question", "a key question", or "a significant question".

Is it ever correct to use "a" before a word starting with a vowel?

Generally, "a" is used before words starting with a consonant sound, while "an" is used before words starting with a vowel sound. There are exceptions based on pronunciation, such as "a university" (because "university" starts with a consonant sound, even though the letter 'u' is a vowel).

How does using the wrong article affect the meaning of "a important question"?

While the meaning is generally understood, using the incorrect article ("a" instead of "an") makes the phrase grammatically incorrect and can detract from the clarity and professionalism of your writing. Always strive for grammatical accuracy to ensure effective communication.