a thorough instruction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a thorough instruction" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct form would typically be "thorough instructions" as "instruction" is usually uncountable when referring to guidance or directions. Example: "The teacher provided thorough instructions for the assignment to ensure all students understood the requirements."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

All patients had a thorough instruction for the questionnaire.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

After a thorough instruction of all mothers and caretakers to always give some food before drug administration, the frequency of vomiting decreased significantly in both MB-receiving groups (data not shown).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The team at LA River Kayak Safari will guide you by bike upstream for the first part of your adventure, where you'll then get a quick (and thorough instruction), jump in your kayaks and set off downstream next to LA's coolest up and coming neighborhood, Frogtown.

Forbes

In low-context societies, e.g., the United States, cultural guidelines tend to be overt and explicit, and students native to such a society learn best with a curriculum that reflects those qualities – detailed, thorough instruction, with little reliance on intuition.

Cornell University

I would like to divide the mission intrusted to my care, as I formerly dedicate my parish, with the most consoling and satisfactory results, into different districts, with a view to the easier and more thorough instruction of the settlers; and, with the grace of God, I will devote myself to the utmost of my powers, to the good of my flock, visiting, helping, and guiding them.

University of Chicago

The less good news is that the process can be a bit overwhelming, so it's best to begin by reading the thorough instruction manual (85 pages at last count)so you know what to expect.

WikiHow

Even the best technology will be weakened without thorough instruction, leaving the system vulnerable to abuse and unresponsive to foreign students.

The New York Times

The program provides thorough instruction in spatial, interregional, and location theory within the context of economic, social, and political systems and training in the use of analytical techniques as they relate to policy and public and private decision-making.

Cornell University

The book includes thorough instruction on challenging areas such as hierarchical softmax and negative sampling, to ensure the reader fully and easily understands the details of how the algorithms function.

Springer

Having never snowmobiled before, we appreciated the thorough instruction Chuck gave us around the workings of the snowmobiles.

HuffPost

It is therefore important that thorough instruction be provided both during implementation and at regular follow-up intervals.

BMC Geriatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using "thorough instructions" instead of "a thorough instruction". The noun "instruction" is generally used in the plural when referring to guidance or a set of directions.

Common error

Avoid using "instruction" in the singular with the article "a" when referring to guidance. The plural form "instructions" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a thorough instruction" functions as a noun phrase intended to describe the quality of guidance or teaching. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not a standard or grammatically correct construction, suggesting that "thorough instructions" is the preferred form.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a thorough instruction" is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that "thorough instructions" is the preferred and more common way to express detailed guidance. While the phrase aims to emphasize completeness, its non-standard form makes it less suitable for formal contexts. When aiming for clarity and correctness, using alternatives such as "comprehensive guidance" or "detailed instructions" is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Detailed instructions

Uses the plural form of "instructions" to indicate specific steps or directions.

Comprehensive guidance

Replaces "instruction" with "guidance", offering a more general term for direction or advice.

Thorough orientation

Focuses on giving someone direction or guidance.

Careful briefing

Replaces the word "thorough" with a synonym.

In-depth training

Focuses on the learning process, suggesting a more hands-on educational experience.

Full explanation

Highlights the clarity and completeness of the information provided.

Exhaustive explanation

Focuses on a deep dive of information being explained.

Complete briefing

Emphasizes a thorough presentation of information, often used in professional settings.

Complete tutorial

Implies a step-by-step guide to mastering a specific skill or software.

Extensive orientation

Suggests a broad introduction to a new environment or system.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "a thorough instruction"?

While the individual words are correct, the phrase "a thorough instruction" is not standard English. It's better to use "thorough instructions" or alternatives like "comprehensive guidance".

What's the difference between "a thorough instruction" and "thorough instructions"?

"A thorough instruction" is grammatically awkward because "instruction" is typically uncountable in this context. "Thorough instructions" is the correct and more common way to express detailed guidance.

How can I rephrase "a thorough instruction" to sound more natural?

Consider using phrases like "detailed instructions", "comprehensive training", or "complete briefing" depending on the specific context.

When should I use "thorough instructions"?

Use "thorough instructions" when you want to emphasize the completeness and detail of the directions or guidance provided. For example, "The manual provides thorough instructions on assembling the product."