a unrivaled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unrivaled" is not correct in written English.
It should be "an unrivaled" because "unrivaled" begins with a vowel sound. Example: "Her talent for painting is truly an unrivaled gift in the art community."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Hartman has a unrivaled history in the league, but may still have some rust after being released by Dallas.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

While studio musicians provide an unrivaled technique, friends provide a one-of-a-kind experience.

HuffPost

As both a biblical historian and a working archeologist, he brings an unrivaled depth of scholarship to his work.

Los Angeles Times

"She made everything seem simple and clear, which made her a great teacher and an unrivaled lecturer".

The New York Times

In August 1853, future President James A. Garfield discussed Willis's declining popularity in his diary: "Willis is said to be a licentious man, although an unrivaled poet.

Wikipedia

Barry was a self-made man with an unrivaled street-sense.

The New York Times

Strauss had an unrivaled descriptive power and a remarkable ability to convey psychological detail.

Britannica

Taos Mountain has a mystique like no other, with an unrivaled place in American cultural history.

The New York Times - Travel

It was as visually stunning as it was sociologically revealing, a combination that made The Americans an unrivaled artistic phenomenon.

Columbia University

A master of policy, Clinton displayed an unrivaled understanding of each topic discussed.

HuffPost

His iconic fresco painting there,, includes 52 figures set within a grand, vaulted architectural structure that gives an unrivaled illusion of depth in this period.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Check the sound of the following word rather than just the first letter; while 'u' is a vowel, only vowel sounds (like the 'un-' in unrivaled) require 'an'.

Common error

Writers sometimes default to 'a' because they are focused on the noun that follows later, or they misidentify the initial sound of the adjective. In the case of "a unrivaled", the error interrupts the natural prosody of English speech.

How to use

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

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unrivaled" is intended to function as an adjective phrase modifying a noun to indicate singular excellence. According to Ludwig, the use of the indefinite article 'a' is a mistake because 'unrivaled' starts with a vowel sound, necessitating the use of 'an'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a unrivaled" is widely considered a grammatical error. Ludwig AI and linguistic data confirm that the correct form is "an unrivaled", as the adjective begins with a vowel sound. While a rare instance of the error can be found in a sports preview from The Guardian, the vast majority of professional sources, such as The New York Times, Britannica and Columbia University, adhere to the 'an' rule. When writing, ensure you use the correct article to maintain professional standards, or choose a consonant-starting alternative like "a peerless" if you prefer the sound of the article 'a'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unrivaled

corrects the article usage to agree with the vowel sound

a peerless

uses a consonant-starting synonym to maintain the article 'a'

an unmatched

provides a semantically identical alternative with correct article usage

an incomparable

emphasizes that something cannot be compared to others

a second-to-none

an idiomatic adjective phrase with a similar meaning

an unsurpassed

indicates that no one has done better

a supreme

conveys a similar level of highest quality using a consonant

a unique

suggests being one of a kind, though slightly less intense

an unbeatable

focuses on the inability of others to win or do better

a world-class

implies top-tier quality but is less absolute than unrivaled

FAQs

Is "a unrivaled" grammatically correct?

No, it is not correct. You should use "an unrivaled" because the adjective begins with a vowel sound.

When should I use "an" instead of "a" with words starting with U?

Use 'an' when the 'u' makes a vowel sound, such as in "an unrivaled" or "an unusual" event. Use 'a' when the 'u' sounds like a consonant 'y', such as in "a university".

What is a synonym for "a unrivaled" that is grammatically correct?

A great alternative is "a peerless" or "an unmatched" quality.

Why does "a unrivaled" appear in some news articles?

It is typically a typographical error or a result of fast-paced digital publishing. High-quality sources like Ludwig show that "an unrivaled" is the standard form used by editors at The New York Times and Britannica.