a unsavory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unsavory" is not correct; it should be "an unsavory." You can use it to describe something that is unpleasant or morally offensive. Example: "The restaurant was known for its unsavory reputation." Alternative expressions include "an unpleasant" and "a distasteful."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And he depicted Donald Trump as a unsavory, unethical, immoral character.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Doing this can earn a person an unsavory reputation in our closely networked industry that will take more than a few years to wear off.

Science Magazine

Decades later, Ralph Ellison remembered him as a bad influence, an unsavory character who "introduced a note of decadence into Afro-American literary matters which was not needed".

The New Yorker

Wiring politicians as part of a plea deal is an unsavory business.

The New York Times

Her eldest daughter, Night (Taryn Kyaze), has taken up with an unsavory guy on a motorbike.

The New York Times

He was almost instantly dismissed by the party establishment as a loose cannon with an unsavory past.

The New York Times

As with most cartoonists, a comic strip is an unsavory peek into the head of its maker.

Vice

Charles Durning and Michael O'Keefe co-star as an unsavory mail-order minister and a doctor with a double identity.

Los Angeles Times

Does an unsavory connection to an Enron subsidiary exist in his correspondence?

The New York Times

Leave it to Swift to turn an unsavory moment into an inspirational speech.

Huffington Post

"Times Square was an unsavory place to raise a young girl back then," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Check the phonetic start of the following word rather than just the letter; while some 'u' words take 'a' (like 'a university'), 'unsavory' strictly requires 'an'.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use 'a' before 'unsavory' by applying the wrong phonological rule or through simple oversight. This is particularly common in fast-paced reporting or transcriptions of verbal testimony where the speaker might have stumbled. To ensure professional polish, always verify that 'unsavory' is preceded by 'an'.

How to use

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

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unsavory" functions as a noun phrase modifier consisting of an indefinite article and an adjective. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is a non-standard construction. The standard English rule requires the article 'an' before words starting with a vowel sound. The few instances of its use in recorded data usually represent transcriptions of speech errors.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "a unsavory" is a grammatically incorrect variation of the standard phrase "an unsavory". Ludwig AI and search data confirm that the vast majority of high-quality writing uses the 'an' article. The rare appearances of the 'a' version in sources like The New York Times are almost exclusively found in direct quotations of spoken language, where grammatical slips are common. For any formal, academic or professional writing, you should consistently use "<a href="/s/an+unsavory" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unsavory" to maintain clarity and adhere to English phonetic rules.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unsavory

Uses the correct indefinite article required for words starting with a vowel sound

a distasteful

Uses a synonym with a consonant start, making the use of 'a' grammatically correct

an unpleasant

Provides a broader adjective for general dislike while maintaining the correct vowel article

a shady

Shifts to informal register to describe suspicious or morally questionable characters

a disreputable

Focuses on a lack of good reputation rather than just a general feeling of distaste

a suspicious

Highlights the sense of distrust often associated with unsavory individuals

a dubious

Suggests doubt or uncertainty regarding the morality or quality of something

an offensive

Increases the intensity of the distaste to describe something that causes active resentment

a morally questionable

Provides a more precise, descriptive term for the unethical aspect of unsavory

a sordid

Implies a higher degree of filth or moral degradation

FAQs

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

The correct form is "<a href="/s/an+unsavory" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unsavory". In English, the article 'an' must be used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What can I say instead of "an unsavory"?

Depending on your context, you might use alternatives like "<a href="/s/a+distasteful" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a distasteful", "<a href="/s/a+disreputable" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a disreputable" or "<a href="/s/a+shady" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a shady".

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

When you see "a unsavory" in reputable sources like The New York Times, it is usually within a direct quote or a transcript of spoken word where the speaker made a verbal slip.

Is it "a unsavory character" or "an unsavory character"?

It should always be "<a href="/s/an+unsavory+character" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unsavory character" to follow standard English grammatical rules.