a unimaginable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unimaginable" is not correct in English.
It should be "an unimaginable" because "unimaginable" begins with a vowel sound. You can use it when describing something that cannot be conceived or comprehended. Example: "The loss of such a beloved figure was an unimaginable tragedy for the community."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Josie's dream quickly turned into a unimaginable nightmare.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The Vatican, he wrote, was "a kingdom divided into little feudal states"; it was a "chaotic, an unimaginable situation".

Independent

It is a forlorn crusade – an unimaginable burden on her physical and emotional health.

The Guardian - Opinion

That they have come to an end is an unimaginable loss.

The Guardian - Music

Security co-operation will increase: the countries' defence ministers will meet regularly, an unimaginable prospect only a few years ago.

The Economist

The race is on to build "little bits on an unimaginable scale" into a bigger business.

Forbes

For a small country it was an unimaginable disaster.

The Guardian - Books

The exercises, the North said a day earlier, could spark an "unimaginable holocaust".

Independent

A ticket would have been an unimaginable luxury for these children.

The Guardian - Arts

Herr's achievement was to find a voice in which to describe an unimaginable apocalypse.

The Guardian - Books

For anyone living in an American celebrity bubble, that is an unimaginable, inconceivable crime.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing scale or emotional impact in formal writing, prefer 'an unimaginable' to emphasize that the event defies normal expectation.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use 'a' because they are focusing on the letter 'u' as a consonant-like sound (as in 'a unique') rather than the vowel sound found in 'unimaginable'. Ensure you listen to the phonetic start of the word; since 'unimaginable' starts with a short 'u' (/ʌ/), 'an' is mandatory.

How to use

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

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unimaginable" is a grammatical error consisting of an indefinite article and an adjective. In English, the article 'a' is reserved for words starting with consonant sounds. According to Ludwig AI, this specific construction should be corrected to 'an' because the adjective 'unimaginable' begins with the vowel sound /ʌ/.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

92%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a unimaginable" is a clear grammatical mistake that should be avoided in all writing. Ludwig AI and standard English rules dictate that "an unimaginable" is the only correct form because the word starts with a vowel sound. While the error occasionally slips into professional news sources as a typo, it disrupts the flow of reading and signals a lack of proofreading. For a more polished text, always pair 'an' with 'unimaginable' or consider alternatives like "an inconceivable" or "a staggering" to ensure your grammar remains flawless.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unimaginable

Corrects the indefinite article 'a' to 'an' to match the following vowel sound

an inconceivable

Uses a synonym with the correct indefinite article for higher formal impact

an unfathomable

Suggests something that cannot be fully measured or understood

a staggering

Uses a consonant-starting adjective to maintain the indefinite article 'a' correctly

an incredible

Offers a slightly more common synonym with the correct 'an' article

a profound

Swaps the adjective for one that describes deep impact while using 'a'

an extraordinary

Emphasizes the unusual nature of the subject with correct article usage

a massive

Shifts the focus to scale while using a consonant-starting adjective

an immense

Highlights great size or degree using the correct 'an' prefix

a limitless

Focuses on the lack of boundaries while preserving the 'a' article

FAQs

Is "a unimaginable" correct English?

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

Why do I see "a unimaginable" in some news articles?

Instances of this phrase in reliable sources like the Huffington Post are typically typographical errors that escaped the editing process. Standard English requires the use of "an unimaginable".

What is a better alternative to "a unimaginable"?

Aside from the grammatically correct "an unimaginable", you could use "an inconceivable" or "an unfathomable" depending on your specific context.

Does the rule for 'a' vs 'an' change with adjectives?

No, the article choice depends entirely on the sound of the word that immediately follows it. Since 'unimaginable' starts with a vowel sound, 'an' must be used regardless of the noun that follows.