a underprivileged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a underprivileged" is not correct; it should be "an underprivileged." You can use it when referring to individuals or groups lacking basic necessities or opportunities. Example: "The charity focuses on helping an underprivileged community." Alternative expressions include "a disadvantaged" and "a marginalized."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Catholic World commented: "Playing a part— an underprivileged youth who, on and off, displays some dignity and honest aspirations — that requires some histrionic effort, Presley shows signs that he is getting the hang of acting.

Wikipedia

Donate blood to the Red Cross, offer assistance to those hit in a storm area, provide services in an underprivileged community, or lead a food drive for a food bank.

HuffPost

Once we do, Pencils of Promise will use that money to build a school in an underprivileged third-world country.

Forbes

Maybe that is because I was a part of an underprivileged minority and did not know it yet.

Huffington Post

As a member of an underprivileged remote rural community of Southern Punjab, Ms. Bibi could not have imagined having access to such health facilities till just a few years ago.

Unicef

But supporters and critics alike agree that Mr. Suharto's priorities during 20 years in power are rooted in his experiences as a rural boy from an underprivileged home whom events propelled to the top of a country in turmoil.

The New York Times

Many are rural workers living in cities, and a spike in their ranks could affect social stability, says Chan. "A higher ratio of an underprivileged and disenfranchised group is of concern," he wrote in an e-mail.

Science Magazine

How would a judge sentence a first-time offender from an underprivileged background who was guilty of felony sexual assault?

Los Angeles Times

By anyone who has ever taught an underprivileged child, adopted an under­privileged child or been an under­privileged child.

The New York Times - Books

Our office space was in a rundown warehouse in an underprivileged neighborhood.

The New York Times

In a pioneering project in an underprivileged part of Bradford, Davies has used principles from her Laughology model to promote resilience and help people cope in difficult situations.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "an" before "underprivileged" because the word begins with a vowel sound, regardless of the noun that follows.

Common error

Writers frequently default to the article "a" by habit when writing quickly, but this creates a jarring phonetic error before a vowel sound. Ensure you proofread phrases like ""a underprivileged"" to change them to the correct "an" version.

How to use

Learn how to use "a underprivileged" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase ""a underprivileged"" is a noun phrase constituent consisting of an indefinite article and an adjective. According to Ludwig AI, this specific combination is incorrect because English requires the article "an" before words starting with a vowel sound to facilitate smoother pronunciation (liaison).

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, ""a underprivileged"" is a grammatical error that should be corrected to "an underprivileged". While Ludwig provides numerous examples of the underlying concept being discussed in prestigious publications like The New York Times and The Guardian, every professional instance utilizes the correct article "an". The term is essential for discussing socioeconomic disparities, but maintaining phonetic correctness is vital for clarity and authority in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an underprivileged

Uses the correct indefinite article required before a vowel sound

a disadvantaged

Replaces the adjective with a synonym that correctly takes the article 'a'

a marginalized

Focuses on social exclusion rather than purely economic status

a low-income

Uses a more specific financial descriptor that follows the 'a' article rule

an impoverished

Employs a stronger adjective denoting extreme poverty while maintaining the correct 'an' article

a deprived

Highlights a lack of essential resources or opportunities

an underserved

Suggests a lack of institutional support or professional services

a struggling

Focuses on the effort required to overcome difficult circumstances

an at-risk

Commonly used in education and social work to denote vulnerability

a vulnerable

Describes groups or individuals susceptible to harm or neglect

FAQs

Is "a underprivileged" correct?

No, the phrase ""a underprivileged"" is grammatically incorrect. Because the word underprivileged begins with a vowel sound, you must use "an underprivileged" instead.

What is the correct article for underprivileged?

The correct article is "an". You should write "an underprivileged child" or "an underprivileged community" to follow standard English rules.

What can I say instead of "a underprivileged"?

You can use alternatives that correctly start with 'a' such as "a disadvantaged" or "a marginalized" group.

Does "a underprivileged" appear in professional writing?

While the topic of underprivileged communities is frequent in high-quality sources, the specific error ""a underprivileged"" is rare in edited publications as it is a clear grammatical mistake.