a unguarded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unguarded" is not correct in written English. It should be "an unguarded" because "unguarded" begins with a vowel sound. You can use it to describe a situation or moment that is not protected or is vulnerable. For example: "He made an unguarded comment during the meeting." Alternative expressions include "an open" and "a candid."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But in between those goals, Clint Dempsey had popped up to side-foot his first goal as a Spurs player, off a rebound into an unguarded net.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was trying to get them to relax a little, so maybe, in an unguarded moment, I got a little too relaxed myself".

BBC

The front-runners could easily implode as a result of an unguarded moment relayed on YouTube.

The Economist

When the men ask Olive where she got their phone number, a spotlight hits an unguarded handbag at the bar.

The New York Times

And Nigel Hasselbaink profited from Gunnar Nielson's goalkeeping blunder to curl a strike into an unguarded net.

BBC

Discontent grew when in an unguarded comment before an interview with a local TV station, David Cameron said: "It's the Tamar, not the Amazon, for heaven's sake".

The Guardian

Andre Iguodala played 29 minutes without a field goal, and his only shot was an embarrassing miss of an unguarded layup early in the fourth quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

The Colombian crossed into the centre and Fernandes turned the ball into an unguarded net with a bicycle kick.

The Guardian - Sport

There were plenty more authentic shots in his 30-ball half-century, including a second six over an unguarded long-on during the powerplay off Ravichandran Ashwin.

Independent

Within hours of Mr Sharaf's departure, a bomb blew up an unguarded pipeline that supplies Israel and Jordan with gas.

The Economist

In May, Leon Panetta, the C.I.A.'s director, referred to the Predator program as "the only game in town" in an unguarded moment after a public lecture.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Evaluate the sound of the word, not just the letter. Since "unguarded" starts with a short "u" sound (/ʌ/), it behaves like a vowel.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use "a" before all words starting with "u" because they are used to exceptions like "a university" or "a union". However, those words start with a consonant "y" sound (/j/), whereas "unguarded" starts with a vowel sound and must be preceded by "an".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unguarded" acts as an incorrectly formed adjective-noun modifier. In standard English, as reflected by the corrections in Ludwig, the indefinite article "a" must be replaced by "an" to facilitate phonetic flow before the vowel sound of the adjective. This construction is typically intended to modify nouns like "moment", "net" or "comment".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "a unguarded" is a grammatical mistake that arises from a misuse of the indefinite article. According to Ludwig AI and standard English rules, the correct phrase is "an unguarded". This error often occurs because writers forget to account for the vowel sound at the beginning of the adjective. The search data reveals that high-quality sources, ranging from The New York Times to Princeton University, exclusively use the version with "an" across various contexts such as sports, politics and psychology. To improve your writing, always check if the word following the article starts with a vowel sound and choose your determiner accordingly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unguarded

Uses the correct indefinite article for a word starting with a vowel sound.

an unprotected

Changes the adjective to a synonym while maintaining the correct article.

a vulnerable

Replaces the adjective with a synonym starting with a consonant, allowing the use of "a".

an open

A simpler adjective often used to describe undefended positions or nets.

an exposed

Focuses on the lack of cover or protection.

a candid

Suitable for describing personal moments or comments rather than physical objects.

a defenseless

Emphasizes the inability to resist or protect itself.

an artless

Used specifically for personality traits or expressions lacking guile.

a frank

Describes an honest or direct communication style.

a spontaneous

Describes a moment that is natural and not planned.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "a unguarded"?

No, it is not correct. Because "unguarded" starts with a vowel sound, you should use ""an unguarded"" instead.

What is a synonym for an "unguarded moment"?

You can describe it as "a vulnerable" moment or "a candid" moment, depending on whether you mean a lack of physical or emotional defense.

Why is "an" used before "unguarded"?

The rule in English is to use "an" before vowel sounds. Since the "u" in "unguarded" is pronounced as a vowel, ""an unguarded"" is the only grammatically acceptable form.

Can I use "a unguarded" in informal writing?

Even in informal contexts, "a unguarded" is viewed as a clear grammatical error. It is better to use ""an unguarded"" or "an unprotected" to ensure your writing remains clear.