a unsatisfactory outcome

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unsatisfactory outcome" is not correct in written English.
It should be "an unsatisfactory outcome" because "unsatisfactory" begins with a vowel sound. Example: "The project ended in an unsatisfactory outcome, leading to further discussions about its direction."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

24 The reason for age over 40 years being a prognostic indicator for a unsatisfactory outcome could be because disc herniation is part of a degenerative disease which seems to worsen in time.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Furthermore, it is also reasonable to suggest that, in the presence of a high degree of cam deformity, inguinal surgical procedures involving a mesh may lead to an unsatisfactory outcome after a long follow-up due to the persistence of mechanical stress.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

21 In this 5-year analysis the independent prognostic factors for an unsatisfactory outcome were a high McGill affective score, a high amount of leg pain and age over 40 years at baseline.

BMJ Open

In the surgical pathway, a patient may die either perioperatively or postoperatively, have a satisfactory outcome, have an unsatisfactory outcome, or have revision surgery during the first year after primary surgery.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

In a randomised study on early surgery versus prolonged conservative treatment for sciatica, female sex was found to be a strong predictor of an unsatisfactory outcome in both groups [ 15].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

This contrasts with the results of the study of Peul [ 15], in which female sex was a strong predictor for an unsatisfactory outcome at 1 year for patients with sciatica and disc herniation.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

PASS is defined as an outcome score threshold of the post-operative score, above which a patient is defined as experiencing a satisfactory outcome, and below which an unsatisfactory outcome is experienced.

Bone and Joint Research

22 Although a high amount of pain at baseline can also be caused by psychological factors, it is an independent prognostic factor for an unsatisfactory outcome in this study.

BMJ Open

Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and aggressive brain tumor with an unsatisfactory outcome.

Best Practice & Research Clinical Haematology

A recent study by Licht and coworkers found an unsatisfactory outcome after 15 years (Licht et al. 2008); however, their follow-up was based on registry data that did not contain information on whether patients had continued to receive lithium.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

As a result wealth becomes concentrated in the hands of the few: an unsatisfactory outcome under any reasonable system of social justice.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "an" before words beginning with a vowel sound. For example, it's "an unsatisfactory outcome", not "a unsatisfactory outcome".

Common error

Avoid using "a" before words starting with a vowel sound; instead, use "an". Saying "a unsatisfactory outcome" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unsatisfactory outcome" functions as a noun phrase, intended to describe a result or consequence that is not satisfactory. However, it is grammatically incorrect due to the improper use of the article "a" before a word that begins with a vowel sound. According to Ludwig AI, the correct article to use is "an".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a unsatisfactory outcome" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "an unsatisfactory outcome". This is because "unsatisfactory" begins with a vowel sound, requiring the article "an" instead of "a". Although examples of the incorrect phrase exist in both scientific and news media, adhering to correct grammar enhances clarity and credibility, particularly in formal writing. Alternatives include "a disappointing outcome" or "an unsatisfactory result".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unsatisfactory result

Replaces "outcome" with "result", maintaining a similar meaning but with correct article usage.

an unfavorable outcome

Replaces "unsatisfactory" with "unfavorable", maintaining formality and providing a nuanced description of the result.

a disappointing outcome

Substitutes "unsatisfactory" with "disappointing", providing a slightly different nuance while remaining grammatically sound.

a poor outcome

Uses a more direct and simpler term, "poor", to describe the outcome, ensuring clarity and grammatical accuracy.

a negative result

Replaces "unsatisfactory" and "outcome" with more general terms conveying a similar sense of failure or poor performance.

an undesirable result

Combines changes from previous suggestions to provide another slight variation.

a suboptimal outcome

Replaces "unsatisfactory" with "suboptimal", indicating that the outcome did not reach its full potential.

an unwanted outcome

Changes "unsatisfactory" to "unwanted", focusing on the lack of desire for the outcome.

an unsuccessful endeavor

Offers a more formal and emphatic alternative for describing a failure.

a failed attempt

Shifts the focus to the attempt itself rather than just the outcome.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "a unsatisfactory outcome"?

The correct phrase is "an unsatisfactory outcome". Use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound.

Is "a unsatisfactory outcome" grammatically correct?

No, "a unsatisfactory outcome" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is "an unsatisfactory outcome".

What can I say instead of "a unsatisfactory outcome"?

You can use phrases like "an unsatisfactory result", "a disappointing outcome", or "a poor outcome".

What determines whether I should use "a" or "an" before a word?

Use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u) and "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound. For example, "an apple" versus "a banana".