a unrequited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unrequited" is not correct; it should be "an unrequited." You can use it when referring to feelings or love that are not reciprocated. Example: "She had an unrequited love for him." Alternative expressions include "unreturned" and "unreciprocated."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Another article told of a unrequited love that was unfortunately cut short by one half of the pair passing away at only 23.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

There are a number of promising starts -- a stolen motorcycle, an unrequited flirtation, a stab or two at car-and-gender analysis -- that never deliver.

The New York Times - Books

The sexiness comes from the busy, desperate need-to-impress heat of a flirtation, an unrequited love communicated through a filter of sleep deprivation.

The New York Times

The biggest roar came when Mr. Ocean performed "Bad Religion," a song lamenting an unrequited love for a man.

The New York Times - Arts

Brendan Meyer stars as Howie, a teenage boy with a broken arm and an unrequited crush on a woman who rides the same Brooklyn bus he takes to school.

Los Angeles Times

It doesn't matter if it was a long-term relationship, a short-lived cyber affair, an unrequited love or a good friends-with-benefits arrangement.

HuffPost

On it, a muted Harvey describes someone (a woman?) stealing to some secret place, longing for an encounter (with an unrequited lover?) that never happens.

The Guardian - Music

A bracelet, given to an unrequited love only to have it thrown back in your stupid face.

Vice

In the weeks preceding the match, Triple H claimed that, several years earlier, Kane had an unrequited relationship with a woman named Katie Vick.

Wikipedia

"It's an unrequited love story between an older man and a younger woman who find a connection at a really bad time," he explains.

The Guardian - Film

Instead, overtaken by an unrequited passion for an unattainable boy, he courts death by failing to heed warnings about the cholera epidemic sweeping the city.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always apply the rule of vowel sounds when choosing between "a" and "an". Since "unrequited" begins with a short /ʌ/ sound (as in "up"), use "an".

Common error

Avoid assuming all words starting with 'u' take the article 'a'. While words like "university" take "a" because they begin with a consonant /j/ sound, "unrequited" begins with a vowel sound and requires "an".

How to use

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

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unrequited" functions as a misused determiner and adjective combination. In standard English, the indefinite article must agree with the phonetics of the following adjective. Ludwig AI identifies this as a grammatical lapse where the article "a" should be replaced by "an" to facilitate smooth pronunciation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

A linguistic review of "a unrequited" reveals that it is a common grammatical error. While the search results contain high-quality snippets, the vast majority (94% match or higher) utilize the correct form: "<a href="/s/an+unrequited" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unrequited". Ludwig AI clearly specifies that "an" is required because the word starts with a vowel sound. Writers should be careful not to be misled by other 'u' words like "university" that take "a"; "unrequited" is firmly in the "an" category. Using the correct article is essential for maintaining a professional and literate tone in journalism, academic writing, and literature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unrequited

Corrects the indefinite article from "a" to "an" to match the vowel sound of the following word.

an unreturned

Uses a synonym for unrequited while maintaining the correct indefinite article.

an unreciprocated

A more formal synonym often used in academic or psychological contexts.

a one-sided

Changes the adjective to one starting with a consonant sound, making the article "a" correct.

a non-reciprocal

Provides a technical alternative that correctly uses the article "a".

an unfulfilled

Shifts the nuance slightly toward the emotional result of the lack of reciprocation.

a rejected

Focuses on the active denial of the feeling rather than the state of it being unreturned.

a hopeless

Describes the emotional state or quality of the love rather than its reciprocation status.

a silent

Often describes unrequited love that is never confessed or spoken aloud.

an unappreciated

Suggests that the feeling is noticed but not valued, a slightly different semantic category.

FAQs

Is "a unrequited" grammatically correct?

No, "a unrequited" is incorrect. Because "unrequited" begins with a vowel sound, the correct phrase is "<a href="/s/an+unrequited" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unrequited".

What can I say instead of "a unrequited"?

You can use the correct version "<a href="/s/an+unrequited" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unrequited" or alternatives like "<a href="/s/an+unreciprocated" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unreciprocated" and "<a href="/s/a+one-sided" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a one-sided".

Why is "an" used before unrequited?

The indefinite article "an" is used because "unrequited" starts with the vowel sound /ʌ/. This follows the standard English rule for indefinite articles preceding vowel-led words.

Which is correct: "a unrequited love" or "an unrequited love"?

The correct form is "<a href="/s/an+unrequited+love" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unrequited love". Examples from Ludwig show that the version with "an" is overwhelmingly preferred by quality publications.