a unmatched

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unmatched" is not correct in English.
It should be "an unmatched." You can use the correct phrase when describing something that is unparalleled or without equal. Example: "Her performance in the competition was truly an unmatched display of talent."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Apple's advantage is its device integration and design chops, and a unmatched war chest with which to continue buying AI companies and any other missing pieces.

TechCrunch

In this work, we have discussed two methods of defining threshold voltage of receiver chip by which it is possible to send a square pulse of 15 picoseconds or less width (that may corresponds to 66 Gbit/sec or more) over a unmatched lossy channel.

Integration, the VLSI Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This can simply be reduced to a problem of a transition between a matched zone and an unmatched one.

European Transport Research Review

None of the TIL cultures lysed the HLA-A-unmatched melanoma cell line 938 mel.

Plosone

Specific tumor reactivity was defined for IFN-γ as ≥200 pg/ml IFN-γ in response to autologous or HLA-A-matched target cells and >2-fold over background response of unstimulated TILs or against HLA-A-unmatched target cells.

Plosone

Specific tumor reactivity was defined for cytotoxicity as ≥20% specific lysis at a 60∶1 effector:target ratio against autologous or HLA-A-matched target cells and ≤10% specific lysis at a 60∶1 effector:target ratio against HLA-A-unmatched target cells.

Plosone

During this time he had an unmatched reputation as a publisher of taste and acumen.

The Guardian - Books

"Today is the celebration of a great career -- an unmatched career, really".

The New York Times - Sports

As a result, Brazil spends an unmatched 3% of GDP on survivors' pensions.

The Economist

It is an information behemoth with an unmatched global logistics and distribution footprint.

Independent

Instead, the Ferrari opens an unmatched window onto how a champion driver must feel.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider using "unparalleled" or "unrivaled" to add emphasis.

Common error

Writers frequently use "a" instead of "an" when they are focused on the noun and overlook the phonetic requirement of the preceding adjective. Remember that the choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound of the very next word, not the noun itself.

How to use

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

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unmatched" functions as a determiner-adjective construction intended to modify a singular noun. However, in English grammar, the indefinite article must agree with the phonology of the following word. Ludwig examples show that while it appears in some digital publications, it fails the basic 'n' insertion rule required before vowel sounds.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The search results from Ludwig confirm that while the string "a unmatched" appears in reputable sources like TechCrunch and ScienceDirect, it is almost certainly a typographical error. In English, the indefinite article 'a' becomes 'an' when the following word begins with a vowel sound. Since 'unmatched' begins with a short 'u' sound (/ʌ/), the correct form is always "an unmatched". This phrase is highly effective in professional and journalistic writing for describing something that is unparalleled or without equal. To improve your writing, ensure you use the correct article or opt for stronger synonyms like "unparalleled" or "unrivaled".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unmatched

Corrects the article to 'an' to precede the vowel sound 'u'.

unparalleled

Stronger adjective suggesting nothing else can be compared to it.

an unrivaled

Indicates that there is no competition or rival.

an unsurpassed

Suggests that nothing has gone beyond this level of quality.

a unique

Uses 'a' correctly because 'unique' starts with a 'y' consonant sound.

an incomparable

Formal synonym emphasizing that a comparison is impossible.

a peerless

Uses 'a' correctly and implies the subject has no equals.

an unbeatable

More informal or competitive context indicating high performance.

an extraordinary

General adjective for high quality that requires the article 'an'.

a mismatched

A different meaning often confused with unmatched, used when things do not fit.

FAQs

Is "a unmatched" correct English?

No, "a unmatched" is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, you should use "an unmatched" because 'unmatched' starts with a vowel sound.

Why do some news sources use "a unmatched"?

Instances of "a unmatched" in sources like TechCrunch are typically typographical errors or 'slips of the pen' that occurred during the editing process. They do not represent standard English usage.

What is a better word for "an unmatched"?

Depending on your context, you might prefer ""unparalleled"", "an unrivaled", or "a peerless".

Should I use a or an before unique?

Unlike 'unmatched', which starts with a vowel sound, 'unique' starts with a consonant 'y' sound. Therefore, you should use "a unique" instead of "an unique".