a military intelligence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a military intelligence" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression is "military intelligence" without the article "a." Example: "The military intelligence gathered crucial information about enemy movements."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Matthew Regner, a military intelligence officer.

The New York Times

Today, he resides in a military intelligence holding cell.

The New York Times

I'm afraid he was a military intelligence officer".

The Guardian

He turns out to be a military intelligence officer.

The Guardian

During his directorship he had lied to a military intelligence officer.

The New York Times - Books

A military intelligence official estimated that the group has 9,200 armed members.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Roosevelt, this resulted in the appearance of a military-intelligence man.

The New Yorker

Whenever the Abuelas were mentioned on television, her alcoholic father, a military-intelligence officer, erupted in anger, spewing insults.

The New Yorker

A military-intelligence officer later recounted that a local taxi-driver was paid to take away Jamadi's body.

The New Yorker

The directors of this state-building project were former members of the Saddam regime, a military-intelligence apparatus trained by the KGB — and it shows.

Independent

It began when the Georgians arrested four Russian officers, accusing them of belonging to a military-intelligence unit and recruiting Georgians to a spy ring.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to military intelligence, omit the article "a". Use the phrase "military intelligence" directly. For example: "The military intelligence gathered vital information."

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before "military intelligence." It's a collective noun and doesn't require an article in most contexts. Instead of "a military intelligence officer," use "military intelligence officer."

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions primarily as a noun modifier, often describing a specific branch, unit, or officer within a military context. As Ludwig AI explains, the correct form is "military intelligence" without the indefinite article.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a military intelligence" appears frequently, but it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct phrasing is simply "military intelligence" without the article "a". This phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, and is used to describe units, officers, or activities related to military information gathering. For alternative phrasing, consider "military intelligence unit" or "intelligence service". Remember to omit the article "a" when using the term to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

military intelligence

Removes the unnecessary article "a", resulting in correct grammar.

military intelligence unit

Adds 'unit' to specify the type of intelligence organization.

military intelligence agency

Substitutes 'agency' to clarify that it's an intelligence service.

army intelligence

Replaces 'military' with 'army' for specificity regarding the branch of service.

naval intelligence

Replaces 'military' with 'naval' for specificity regarding the branch of service.

air force intelligence

Replaces 'military' with 'air force' for specificity regarding the branch of service.

defense intelligence

Uses 'defense' to refer to intelligence activities across military branches.

intelligence service

A more general term for military intelligence.

intelligence branch

Specifies the intelligence as a branch within the military.

military reconnaissance

Focuses on the reconnaissance aspect of military intelligence.

FAQs

How to use "military intelligence" in a sentence?

Use "military intelligence" as a noun phrase without the article "a". For example, "The "military intelligence" community is responsible for gathering information about potential threats."

What can I say instead of "a military intelligence officer"?

You can say "military intelligence officer", omitting the article "a" for grammatical correctness. Alternatively, use "intelligence officer" with a modifier for further clarity.

Is it correct to say "a military intelligence"?

No, it is not correct. The correct phrase is ""military intelligence"" without the article "a". As Ludwig AI says, the phrase "a military intelligence" is not correct in standard English usage.

Which is correct, "a military intelligence unit" or "military intelligence unit"?

"Military intelligence unit" is correct. The phrase "military intelligence" acts as an adjective describing the type of unit. You don't need the article "a" unless you are referring to one specific unit out of many.