a most excellent

USAGE SUMMARY

"a most excellent" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It is typically used as an adjective to describe something remarkable. For example: "That was a most excellent performance!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

I returned with a most excellent Borsalino.

The New Yorker

Have a most excellent weekend, à bientôt!

The Guardian - Sport

The ship is a most excellent auxiliary with tremendous cruising radius at high speed.

The New Yorker

"It is a most excellent means of taking the conceit out of one".

The New Yorker

Hope you enjoy, and have a most excellent Thanksgiving!" He revealed the teaser will be just 88 seconds long.

Independent

He clearly loves his food and pronounces himself a most excellent chef, a skill he honed to perfection at college as a way to impress girls.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Like Yorick, Dodd is a figure "of most excellent fancy".

The Guardian

After Gloria decides a resident of Most Excellent Way is serious about recovery and ready to put her old life behind her, she begins beading.

Huffington Post

But what Latitude continues to master is an unchallenging offering of the arts' most excellent; a refined selection of music, comedy and literature.

The Guardian

Within a fortnight of my most excellent idea I found myself in front of a class of adult faces all eagerly awaiting my revelations on the wonders of biology.

Science Magazine

The MCNS sample shows the highest specific capacitance of 224 F g−1 (0.2 A g−1), the best rate capability (73% retention at 20 A g−1), and the most excellent capacitance retention of 93% over 10,000 cycles.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a most excellent" to add a touch of formality or to emphasize strong approval in your writing. It works well in both descriptive and narrative contexts.

Common error

While "a most excellent" can be effective, avoid using it too frequently in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound stilted or affected. Vary your descriptive language to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a most excellent" functions primarily as a pre-modifier, specifically an adjective phrase, enhancing a noun by expressing a high degree of quality or approval. As Ludwig AI says, it functions as an adjective.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

14%

Huffington Post

11%

Less common in

Science

9%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a most excellent" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase to express strong approval or admiration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is primarily used to describe something of high quality in a somewhat formal, neutral register, frequently appearing in news and media contexts. While effective, it's best used sparingly to avoid sounding affected. Alternatives like ""a truly exceptional"" or ""an outstanding"" can provide variety. Remember, context is key to ensure the phrase aligns with your intended tone and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A truly exceptional

Substitutes "most excellent" with "truly exceptional", emphasizing genuine quality.

An outstanding

Replaces the two-word modifier with one word, maintaining a formal tone.

A remarkably good

Uses "remarkably good" to denote a high degree of quality.

A superbly fine

Employs "superbly fine" instead of "most excellent", focusing on superior quality.

An extraordinarily great

Uses "extraordinarily great" to emphasize the exceptional nature.

A particularly wonderful

Replaces the intensifier and adjective with alternatives that convey delight.

A decidedly superior

Swaps for "decidedly superior", stressing the definite advantage or quality.

A considerably impressive

Changes to "considerably impressive", highlighting the impact made.

A wonderfully perfect

Uses "wonderfully perfect" to communicate the flawless and pleasing nature.

A genuinely magnificent

Substitutes with "genuinely magnificent", asserting the authentic grandeur.

FAQs

How can I use "a most excellent" in a sentence?

You can use "a most excellent" to describe something of very high quality or particularly impressive. For example, "That was "a most excellent" performance!" or "He is "a most excellent" chef."

What are some alternatives to "a most excellent"?

Alternatives include "a truly exceptional", "an outstanding", or "a remarkably good", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a most excellent" formal or informal?

"A most excellent" is generally considered somewhat formal, adding a touch of elevated language. It's suitable for situations where you want to express strong approval in a refined manner, but be cautious not to overuse it to avoid sounding affected.

Is it correct to say "most excellent" without the article "a"?

While "most excellent" can be used, including the article "a" (or "an" if the following word starts with a vowel sound) often provides a smoother, more grammatically conventional phrasing in many contexts. For example, "He demonstrated "most excellent" skill" is grammatically correct, it sounds better as "He demonstrated "a most excellent" level of skill".