a unresponsive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unresponsive" is not correct in written English.
The correct form should be "an unresponsive" due to the vowel sound at the beginning of "unresponsive." Example: "The system was found to be an unresponsive entity during the test."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Here, I'm greeted by a unresponsive bouncer who hulks moodily at the door.

Vice

A number on a monitor indicating 'adequate sedation' can not replace the common sense of sedating a patient with clinical signs of discomfort or agitation, or reducing sedation in a unresponsive patient, unless patient outcome studies prove such an approach to be successful.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If a GP got a call about a dead or an unresponsive baby, their next call would be to Fleming.

The Guardian

Staff was trained to define an overdose as an episode when an unresponsive victim had signs of respiratory depression after using substances.

BMC Public Health

Scenario: A Tesla Model 3 is traveling 70 mph down a highway with an unresponsive driver.

Los Angeles Times

But he stressed Labour would not be spoiling for a fight with an unresponsive civil service.

The Guardian

(a) He asked an unresponsive audience, "Can I have some applause?" (b) He referred to Russia as the "Soviet Union," which it stopped being seventeen years ago.

The New Yorker

Doctors traced the problem to an unresponsive nerve, a peripheral branch of the sciatic, which runs from the lower spine through the buttocks and down the legs.

The New York Times - Magazine

Maxwell Apartment S&S received a report for an unresponsive male in Maxwell.

Huffington Post

The change of cell characteristic from a responsive to an unresponsive state can be either reversible or irreversible.

CPT: Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology

But the dream turns out to be a nightmare, an eternal prostration before an unresponsive, artificial image.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In medical or technical writing, prefer specific terms like 'non-reactive' or 'comatose' if the unresponsiveness is clinical.

Common error

Do not assume that because 'u' sometimes takes 'a' (like 'a university'), it always does. The rule is based on the sound: 'university' starts with a 'y' sound, but 'unresponsive' starts with a short 'u' vowel sound, requiring 'an'.

How to use

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

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unresponsive" serves as an indefinite article modifying an adjective. However, Ludwig AI identifies this as a grammatical error where the article 'a' is incorrectly applied to a word starting with a vowel sound. In standard English, the article should be 'an'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, while the phrase "a unresponsive" appears in some reputable sources, it is fundamentally a grammatical error. As Ludwig AI clearly points out, the vowel sound at the beginning of 'unresponsive' necessitates the use of the indefinite article 'an'. Writers should always opt for "an unresponsive" to maintain professional standards. The occurrences of "a unresponsive" in the examples provided by Ludwig likely represent unedited typos or transcriptions of spoken English where article rules are sometimes relaxed. For high-stakes writing in Science or Academia, this mistake should be strictly avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unresponsive

Corrects the indefinite article from 'a' to 'an' to match the vowel sound at the start of 'unresponsive'

a non-responsive

Uses a hyphenated form where 'a' is grammatically permissible as it precedes the consonant 'n'

an inactive

Provides a synonymous adjective while maintaining the correct 'an' article

an unreacting

Offers a more literal description of the state of not reacting while following vowel-article rules

a silent

Uses a different adjective starting with a consonant, allowing the use of 'a' to describe a lack of response

an impassive

Specific to human behavior, describing a lack of emotion or reaction

a dormant

Often used in technical or biological contexts to describe a temporary state of unresponsiveness

a catatonic

A much stronger medical term for an extreme state of unresponsiveness

an apathetic

Describes a psychological state of lack of interest or response

an oblivious

Describes unresponsiveness due to a lack of awareness rather than inability to react

FAQs

Is it correct to say 'a unresponsive'?

No, the phrase "a unresponsive" is grammatically incorrect. You should use "an unresponsive" because the word begins with a vowel sound.

What is the correct article for 'unresponsive'?

The correct indefinite article is 'an'. Using "an unresponsive" ensures proper English syntax.

Can I say 'a non-responsive' instead?

Yes, using "a non-responsive" is grammatically correct because 'non-responsive' begins with a consonant sound.

Why does Ludwig AI flag 'a unresponsive' as incorrect?

Ludwig AI flags it because English grammar requires 'an' before vowel sounds to prevent a glottal stop, making "an unresponsive" the standard choice.