a important step

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a important step" is not correct in written English.
It should be "an important step." You can use it when referring to a significant action or decision that contributes to a larger goal or process. Example: "Implementing this new policy is an important step towards improving workplace safety."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The budget's package of measures for families and children has been welcomed as a important step towards the government's 2010 target of halving child poverty.

The Guardian - Business

This is Digital Broadcasting Group's first acquisition, and marks a important step in the company's move to create and distribute original video programming in niche verticals across the Web.

TechCrunch

Resistance to detachment-induced apoptosis (anoikis) is known as a important step during metastasis by affording tumor cells increased survival times while migrating to secondary sites.

BMC Cancer

This is a important step.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"I believe it's an important step, a milestone".

The Guardian - Business

"As a demonstration, it is an important step".

The New York Times

This is an important step in a model's validation.

Plosone

The hair is an important step to an anime girl.

WikiHow

But, starting a conversation about money is an important step.

Huffington Post

That's an important step".

The New York Times

Today was an important step.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "an" instead of "a" before words that begin with a vowel sound, such as "important."

Common error

Avoid using the article "a" before words that start with a vowel sound. Instead, use "an" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, write "an important step" instead of "a important step".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a important step" functions as a noun phrase, intended to describe a significant action or stage within a process. However, it's grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the proper form is "an important step".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a important step" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "an important step". This noun phrase is used to highlight the significance of a particular action. Ludwig AI identifies the error and provides the correction. Although examples appear in news, science, and wiki sources, the grammatical error reduces the phrase's effectiveness and appropriateness, especially in formal settings. Remember to use "an" before words starting with a vowel sound. Consider using alternatives like "a crucial step" or "a significant step" to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an important step

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

a crucial step

Replaces "important" with "crucial" to emphasize the critical nature of the step.

a significant step

Substitutes "important" with "significant" to highlight the magnitude of the step.

a key step

Replaces "important" with "key" to indicate that the step is essential for achieving a goal.

a vital step

Substitutes "important" with "vital" to underscore the necessity of the step.

a major step

Replaces "important" with "major" to emphasize the scale or impact of the step.

a fundamental step

Substitutes "important" with "fundamental" to highlight the basic or foundational nature of the step.

a noteworthy step

Replaces "important" with "noteworthy" to indicate that the step is worth paying attention to.

a considerable step

Replaces "important" with "considerable" to highlight that the step is large or great.

a meaningful step

Replaces "important" with "meaningful" to underscore the value of the step.

FAQs

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

The correct way to phrase this is "an important step". The article "an" should be used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What are some alternatives to saying "an important step"?

You can use alternatives like "a crucial step", "a significant step", or "a key step" depending on the context.

Is "a important step" grammatically correct?

No, "a important step" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "an important step". The indefinite article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What's the difference between "a important step" and "an important step"?

"A important step" is grammatically incorrect due to the misuse of the article "a" before a vowel sound. "An important step" is the correct phrasing, using the appropriate article "an".