a important task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a important task" is not correct in written English.
It should be "an important task" because "important" begins with a vowel sound. Example: "Completing the project on time is an important task for our team."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Updating a finite element model to match measured spectral information has been a important task for engineers.

Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing

When I returned to the position of Prime Minister in 2009, I had a important task waiting for me: to return our soldier Gilad Shalit home," he said, according to Haaretz.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Stopping the fire as soon as possible is therefore an important task," a spokesman for the agency said.

The Guardian

Obama should not confuse wishful thinking with turning a blind eye to an important task that remains unfinished.

The Guardian - Opinion

Integration of information streams into a unitary representation is an important task of our cognitive system.

Plosone

Assessing the quality of the produced reads is an important task for a sequencing center.

BMC Genomics

Elucidating the cause of phenotypic differences among primates at a genetic level is an important task.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Selecting the appropriate variables for an analytical model is an important task in epidemiological research.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

They perceived prevention as an important task and felt a responsibility to provide preventive services.

BMC Health Services Research

Reaching consensus on a standard imaging protocol is an important task but remains challenging.

Disease Markers

Detecting objects is an important task when moving through a natural environment.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct article before adjectives that modify nouns. Since "important" begins with a vowel sound, use "an" instead of "a". The correct phrase is "an important task".

Common error

Avoid using the article "a" before adjectives that start with a vowel sound. This error is common, but it can be easily corrected by using "an" instead. Always double-check the article before adjectives to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a important task" functions as a noun phrase intended to describe a significant duty or activity. However, due to the incorrect use of the article "a" instead of "an", the phrase is grammatically flawed. As Ludwig AI indicates, this is a grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a important task" is grammatically incorrect and should be "an important task". As Ludwig AI points out, the indefinite article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. While some authoritative sources may inadvertently use the incorrect phrase, it's essential to use the grammatically correct version in both formal and informal writing. Alternatives like "a crucial task" or "a significant task" can also be considered. Remember to always double-check your article usage to ensure clarity and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an essential activity

Modifies the structure to include the correct article "an", replacing "task" with "activity" and "important" with "essential", indicating a necessary action.

a crucial endeavor

Replaces "task" with "endeavor" and "important" with "crucial", emphasizing the critical nature of the undertaking.

a significant undertaking

Substitutes "task" with "undertaking" and "important" with "significant", highlighting the magnitude and relevance of the project.

a critical function

Replaces "task" with "function" and "important" with "critical", emphasizing the vital role it plays.

a vital responsibility

Changes "task" to "responsibility" and "important" to "vital", underscoring the essential and accountable nature of the work.

a key assignment

Replaces "task" with "assignment" and "important" with "key", focusing on the central and necessary aspect of the job.

a fundamental duty

Swaps "task" for "duty" and "important" for "fundamental", highlighting the basic and required nature of the obligation.

a paramount concern

Changes "task" to "concern" and "important" to "paramount", highlighting the supreme importance of the matter.

a primary objective

Replaces "task" with "objective" and "important" with "primary", stressing the main goal to be achieved.

a top priority

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise expression, indicating that the task is of the highest importance.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "a important task"?

The correct way to say it is "an important task" because the word "important" starts with a vowel sound. Using "a" is grammatically incorrect.

What can I say instead of "a important task"?

While "a important task" is grammatically incorrect, you can use phrases like "a crucial task", "a significant task", or "a vital task".

Which is correct, "a important task" or "an important task"?

"An important task" is the correct phrase. The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

How can I remember to use the correct article before adjectives?

A simple rule is to use "an" before words starting with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u) and "a" before words starting with a consonant sound. For example, "an apple" versus "a banana".