a obvious question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a obvious question" is not correct.
It should be "an obvious question." You can use it when referring to a question that is clear or self-evident to most people. Example: "Isn't it an obvious question to ask why the project was delayed?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

She laughed at such a obvious question, and replied: "Definitely, yes!" 11.18am BST Women's 200m t11 Over to the Olympic Stadium where Tracey Hinton, with her union flag emblazoned sunglasses, started well but slowed down in the final straight and could only come third in her heat.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's an obvious question for an evolutionary biologists to ask.

The Guardian

But it may still leave an obvious question unanswered: how can a countable model of ZFC satisfy such a formula?

SEP

This raises an obvious question: Why would an impatient person like me, not usually an avid coupon clipper, bother?

The New York Times - Tech

This leads to an obvious question: Why do you have a tabloid in each hand?

The Guardian - Music

NFC – This is an obvious question and John and I discussed this a bit offline.

TechCrunch

Of course, this raises an obvious question: How many users actually are active, using a more traditional definition?

The New York Times

The location in Plaquemines Parish, which has an ideal climate for some subtropical species, does raise an obvious question.

The New York Times

This led to an obvious question regarding the relationship between rho and epsilon transcription within a single locus.

Plosone

This may seem like an obvious question, but knowing how to clearly define your current role is a tremendous asset.

WikiHow

All of which raises an obvious question.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound. The correct phrase is "an obvious question".

Common error

Avoid using "a" before words starting with a vowel sound. The correct construction is "an obvious question", not "a obvious question". Using "a" in this context is a common grammatical error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase, when corrected to "an obvious question", functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object of a verb. It identifies a question that is easily understood or anticipated. As Ludwig indicates, the original phrase is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a obvious question" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "an obvious question". The need for correction comes from using the incorrect article. As Ludwig AI highlights, "an" should be used before words that begin with a vowel sound. While the phrase itself is simple and can be used in various contexts, its incorrect usage undermines its effectiveness. Remember to always use "an" when the following word begins with a vowel sound to ensure grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an expected question

Replaces "obvious" with "expected" maintaining the sense of anticipation but corrects the grammatical error.

a clear question

Substitutes "obvious" with "clear", emphasizing the ease of understanding but corrects the grammatical error.

a self-evident question

Replaces "obvious" with "self-evident", highlighting the question's inherent clarity but corrects the grammatical error.

a straightforward question

Uses "straightforward" instead of "obvious", indicating the simplicity of the question but corrects the grammatical error.

a simple question

Employs "simple" as a substitute for "obvious", focusing on the uncomplicated nature of the question but corrects the grammatical error.

an easily answered question

Focuses on the ease with which the question can be answered, rather than its obviousness and corrects the grammatical error.

a predictable question

Highlights the predictability of the question, implying it was easily foreseen but corrects the grammatical error.

a commonly asked question

Shifts the emphasis to the frequency with which the question is posed, instead of its inherent obviousness but corrects the grammatical error.

a basic question

Uses "basic" to denote the fundamental nature of the question but corrects the grammatical error.

an elementary question

Replaces "obvious" with "elementary", suggesting a foundational or introductory question but corrects the grammatical error.

FAQs

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

The grammatically correct way to phrase it is "an obvious question". Use "an" instead of "a" before words that start with a vowel sound.

When should I use "an" instead of "a"?

Use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u) and "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound. For example, "an apple" but "a banana".

What can I say instead of "a obvious question" (corrected to "an obvious question")?

You can use alternatives like "a clear question", "a simple question", or "an expected question" depending on the context.

Is "a obvious question" ever correct?

No, "a obvious question" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is always "an obvious question".