a unmoved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unmoved" is not correct in written English. It should be "an unmoved" because "unmoved" begins with a vowel sound. Example: "He remained an unmoved observer during the debate." Alternative expressions include "an indifferent" and "a detached."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

From these facts philosophers infer deductively, inductively, or abductively by inference to the best explanation that a first or sustaining cause, a necessary being, an unmoved mover, or a personal being (God) exists that caused and/or sustains the universe.

SEP

Watching from the network's studio across the street, @mtvnews enjoyed a free, if inaudible, show for nearly two hours, as Mr. Velasquez performed atop the metal beam for an unmoved — and unmoving — Midtown audience.

The New York Times

Physics studies the natural universe as a whole, and tends in Aristotle's hands to concentrate on conceptual puzzles pertaining to nature rather than on empirical research; but it reaches further, so that it includes also a theory of causal explanation and finally even a proof of an unmoved mover thought to be the first and final cause of all motion.

SEP

I take then the possible case of its not moving it: then there will be a part that is moved and a part that is an unmoved movent.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It is not clear that it is a successful attempt; but it may still have predisposed some of Proclus' readers to understand Aristotle's cosmological argument in Physics 8.5 as a proof of the existence of both an unmoved mover and (by implication) a self-moved soul.

SEP

The fireplug Cynthia is literally inflamed (parts of her skin are covered with raw patches of eczema) and Peter is a slender slacker who goes wherever she throws him: an irrepressible object meets an unmoved force.

The New York Times

3582 Not Black, because the king could only have reached a2 via an illegal check from an unmoved white pawn.

The Guardian - Sport

The God beyond the ineffable is not an ether-like cloud, an unmoved Mover or any other abstract premise of philosophical reasoning but the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The New York Times

There is also a grim story about Will Johnson breaking an ankle during Leicester training, at which point an unmoved John Wells moved the players across to a neighbouring pitch, leaving the writhing Johnson to await an ambulance.

The Guardian - Sport

But sound is caused when a moving body is enclosed in an unmoved body, and cannot be caused by one enclosed in, and continuous with, a moving body which creates no friction.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That is why it is interesting to find in Proclus' Elements of Theology (14, 16.15 23) an attempt to deduce the existence of a self-moved soul à la Plato from that of an unmoved intellect à la Aristotle.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "<a href="/s/an+unmoved+mover" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unmoved mover" when referring to Aristotelian philosophy or cosmological arguments, as this is the standard terminology found in academic sources like Ludwig.

Common error

Writers often assume that because 'u' can sometimes sound like a consonant (as in 'a university'), it always takes 'a'. However, in "unmoved", the 'u' makes a short vowel sound, making "a unmoved" a clear error. Always say the phrase out loud to hear the transition between words.

How to use

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

How to use

Linguistic Context

In this construction, the word "a" acts as an indefinite article modifying the adjective "unmoved". According to Ludwig AI, this is a grammatical error because the article should be "<a href="/s/an+unmoved" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unmoved". Indefinite articles must agree with the phonetics of the following word; since "unmoved" begins with a vowel sound (/ʌn/), the article "an" is required.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, the phrase "a unmoved" is a grammatical error and should be avoided in all writing styles. Ludwig AI and standard English rules confirm that "<a href="/s/an+unmoved" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unmoved" is the only correct form due to the vowel sound at the start of the adjective. While the search results show that high-quality sources like The New York Times and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy frequently use the adjective "unmoved", they invariably pair it with the correct article "an" or place it after a verb (e.g., "remained unmoved"). To maintain professional and clear communication, writers should always apply the 'a/an' rule based on phonetics and consider synonyms like "<a href="/s/indifferent" target="_blank" rel="alternative">indifferent" or "<a href="/s/stoic" target="_blank" rel="alternative">stoic" if they wish to vary their vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unmoved

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

an unaffected

Emphasizes that something has not been changed by an influence.

a detached

Uses a synonym with a consonant sound, allowing the use of the article 'a'.

an unperturbed

Suggests being calm and not worried by something.

an indifferent

Conveys a similar lack of emotional response using a vowel-initial adjective.

a stoic

Focuses on the emotional aspect of being unmoved.

a stationary

Focuses on the physical aspect of being unmoved or unmoving.

a fixed

Describes something that cannot be physically moved.

a steady

Implies a lack of movement through stability.

a cold

A more metaphorical way to describe an unmoved emotional state.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "a unmoved"?

No, it is not correct. You should use "<a href="/s/an+unmoved" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unmoved" because the word following the article begins with a vowel sound.

What is the difference between "a unmoved" and "an unmoved"?

The difference is purely grammatical correctness. "a unmoved" is an error, while "<a href="/s/an+unmoved" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unmoved" follows the standard English rule for indefinite articles before vowel sounds.

Can I use another word instead of "a unmoved"?

Yes, if you wish to use the article 'a', you can use synonyms like "<a href="/s/a+detached" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a detached" or "<a href="/s/a+stoic" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a stoic" observer.

Where does the phrase "an unmoved mover" come from?

It is a philosophical concept attributed to Aristotle, describing a primary cause of all motion in the universe that is not itself moved by anything. In this context, "<a href="/s/an+unmoved" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unmoved" is the correct form.