a unresolved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unresolved" is not correct in written English. It should be "an unresolved" because "unresolved" begins with a vowel sound. Example: "There is an unresolved issue that needs to be addressed." Alternative expressions include "an unanswered," "a pending," or "an open."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

For the companies, the casks are a reminder of an unresolved problem.

The New York Times

Sometimes even watching a movie that reminds you of an unresolved experience can be a trigger.

WikiHow

In fact, however, an unresolved contradiction was a sign of error for Hegel.

SEP

As a result, we harbor an unresolved love/hate relationship with goofing off.

Forbes

Colonic diverticular disease is a bothersome condition with an unresolved pathogenesis.

BMC Gastroenterology

But in some pieces there's an unresolved crudeness, even an ugliness, that can become tiresome.

The New York Times - Arts

But I think it's great for a play to come from an unresolved question.

The Guardian

The traceability of olive oil is an unresolved issue that remains a challenge.

Food Chemistry

The mechanism by which cytoplasmic A-FABP is released into circulation is also an unresolved question.

Critical Care

The construction of the book reflects an unresolved awkwardness about how deeply a daughter should delve.

The New York Times - Books

A little scratchy riff, again ending on an unresolved chord.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article 'an' before words that begin with a vowel sound, regardless of the following noun. Since 'unresolved' starts with a vowel sound (/ʌ/), it must be preceded by 'an'.

Common error

Do not decide between 'a' and 'an' based solely on the first letter of the next word. Focus on the sound. For example, while 'university' starts with 'u', it has a consonant 'y' sound, so it takes 'a'. Conversely, 'unresolved' starts with a vowel sound, so it must take 'an'.

How to use

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

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unresolved" is intended to function as an adjective-noun modifier, but it is grammatically invalid. In standard English, the indefinite article must agree with the phonology of the following word. As noted by Ludwig AI, the correct pairing is 'an unresolved'.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The search results from Ludwig clearly indicate that while the concept of something being 'unresolved' is extremely common in authoritative writing, the specific string "a unresolved" is an error. Every high-quality source provided, from The New York Times to Nature, uses the grammatically correct form "an unresolved". According to Ludwig AI, the choice of 'an' is mandatory here because 'unresolved' starts with a vowel sound. Writers should be careful to apply this phonetic rule to avoid disruptions in the flow of their prose. In summary, if you are describing a problem, mystery, or issue that has no end in sight, always ensure you use 'an' to maintain professional standards.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unresolved

Corrects the grammatical error by using the proper indefinite article for a word starting with a vowel sound.

an unsettled

Uses a synonym with the correct article to describe something that remains decided or fixed.

a pending

Replaces the adjective with one starting with a consonant, allowing the use of 'a'.

an open

Suggests a question or issue that has not yet been answered or closed.

an outstanding

Often used in financial or legal contexts to denote something that is still to be dealt with.

an unaddressed

Specifies that the issue has not yet received attention or action.

a lingering

Emphasizes the persistent nature of the unresolved state using a consonant-led adjective.

an ongoing

Focuses on the continuous nature of the situation rather than just the lack of resolution.

a remaining

A simpler alternative describing what is left over or still to be fixed.

an undetermined

Indicates that a decision or result has not yet been reached.

FAQs

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

The correct form is always "an unresolved" because the word 'unresolved' begins with a vowel sound.

What can I use instead of "a unresolved"?

You should use "an unresolved", or if you prefer to use the article 'a', you could say "a pending" issue or "a lingering" problem.

Why is "a unresolved" considered incorrect?

English grammar requires the article 'an' before words starting with vowel sounds to facilitate easier pronunciation and flow between words.

How do I use "an unresolved" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe something incomplete, such as 'This remains "an unresolved mystery"' or 'They faced "an unresolved conflict"'.