a unnatural

USAGE SUMMARY

"a unnatural" is not correct; it should be "an unnatural." You can use "an unnatural" when describing something that is not natural or is artificial in nature. Example: "The film featured an unnatural portrayal of human emotions." Alternative expressions include "an artificial" and "a synthetic."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"But when they are put in a unnatural position, when there clearly is a sexual connotation, that's going too far, in my opinion.

The New York Times - Sports

To progress you'll need to gain energy by running over glowing blue platforms – judging whether or not to make the leap leaves you trying to plot optimal routes in a unnatural space with frightening speed.

The Guardian

The result for the auditory voice interface was encouraging as the current implementation has several limitations including a unnatural monotone voice and on occasion is difficult to follow, the participants were able to look past these issues and determine that auditory/voice based interaction would be useful.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Seraphim responded to the plans to make Greece join the rest of Europe in the 21st century by stating that "homosexuality is a unnatural aberration not even observed in animals".

Vice

For his latest act, Lindstrøm's remixed New York duo MS MR's "Painted," building a crisp, slow-burning disco-house track out of the two most poignant lines in the song: "A cruel dark box where a shadow took my place/when you put me in a unnatural space".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

That you are an unnatural woman, a child-hater?

The Guardian

Rules that, when changed, can quickly turn a natural into an unnatural.

The New York Times

And talking about what you know well makes an unnatural situation a little more comfortable.

Huffington Post

"It is a natural response to an unnatural environment".

Independent

"Living life as a public person is an unnatural way to live," he said.

The New York Times - Books

THE VIEW FROM LAZY POINT: A Natural Year in an Unnatural World, by Carl Safina John Macrae/Holtt, $32).

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the indefinite article "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound. Since the word "unnatural" begins with the short 'u' vowel sound (/ʌ/), it must be preceded by "an".

Common error

Writers sometimes default to "a" before any word they haven't phonetically processed, leading to errors like "a unnatural". Even if a word is later edited into the sentence, ensure the preceding article is updated to match the new starting sound.

How to use

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

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unnatural" functions as an incorrectly constructed noun phrase modifier. In English, the indefinite article must agree with the phonology of the following word. Ludwig AI correctly identifies that the vowel sound at the start of 'unnatural' requires the article 'an'. Examples in Ludwig show this error appearing primarily in fast-paced media writing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a unnatural" is a common grammatical slip found even in high-tier publications. According to Ludwig AI and standard English rules, the correct expression is "an unnatural" because the word 'unnatural' begins with a vowel sound. While you may see this error in transcriptions or unedited news clips, it should be avoided in all forms of professional and academic writing. Using "an unnatural" or alternatives like "an artificial" will ensure your prose remains polished and correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unnatural

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

an artificial

Specifies that something is man-made rather than just not natural

an abnormal

Shifts the focus to a deviation from a statistical or healthy norm

an unusual

A softer alternative indicating that something is simply not common

a strange

Focuses on the perception of the object as being weird or unfamiliar

a synthetic

Commonly used in chemical or material contexts to denote non-organic origins

an affected

Specifically used for behavior or mannerisms that feel forced or fake

an anomalous

A more technical term for something that doesn't fit a pattern

a non-natural

Uses a hyphenated prefix to avoid the vowel-sound issue while keeping the core word

an inorganic

Refers to matter that is not composed of organic life or feels mechanical

FAQs

Which is correct, "a unnatural" or "an unnatural"?

The correct form is "an unnatural". The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound of the following word, and because 'unnatural' starts with a vowel sound, 'an' is required.

What can I say instead of "a unnatural"?

You should use the correct grammar "an unnatural", or consider synonyms like "an artificial" or "an unusual" depending on your specific meaning.

Why do some famous news sources use "a unnatural"?

Occurrences in reputable outlets are typically typographical errors or verbatim transcriptions of spoken word. Despite these sightings, "a unnatural" remains grammatically incorrect in standard English.

How do I fix "a unnatural" in my writing?

Simply replace the 'a' with 'an' to create "an unnatural". This ensures proper flow and adherence to English phonetic rules.