a unusual request

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unusual request" is not correct in written English.
It should be "an unusual request" because "unusual" begins with a vowel sound. Example: "She made an unusual request for a day off to attend a concert."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And there was a written demand for $10 million, an unusual request for a serial killer.

The New York Times

But when the would-be buyers made an unusual request, a preliminary meeting with the co-op board before signing a contract, Ms. McCormick and Mr. Hirsch grew skeptical.

The New York Times

Last year Tristan Andrews, an agent with Douglas Elliman, received an unusual request from a Hong Kong couple he had just worked with on buying a 3,900-square-foot 3,900-square-foot 3,900-square-foot

The New York Times

In 2009, retired school teacher Geoff Ostling was showing his tattoos at a seminar at the National Museum of Australia when he was approached by a curator with an unusual request: Would he be open to donating his skin for posthumous display at the museum?

Vice

One morning last fall, Jon Ritter, an architectural historian living in Greenwich Village, woke to find an e-mail from a neighbor, who had an unusual request.

The New Yorker

Saskatchewan has asked BHP to make a 1 billion Canadian dollar payment to the province, an unusual request for a Canadian government, according to people familiar with the negotiations who declined to be named because the talks are private.

The New York Times

During a recent high school visit, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev received an unusual request from a local student.

TechCrunch

10 P.M. (Bravo) PREGNANT IN HEELS Rosie Pope, a pregnancy specialist and fashion designer, offers her expertise to a new crop of expectant mothers, starting with Christina, who has an unusual request for a home birth.

The New York Times

On Aug. 23, a hot, muggy night, Mr. Kabbani, a driver of a black-car limousine, the kind often used by corporations, got an unusual request from a passenger he had picked up in the financial district.

The New York Times

It's an unusual request of an auteur to an executive".

The New York Times - Magazine

This was not an unusual request in the late '90s, a way for a network to save a million dollars by not producing an actual pilot.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "an unusual request" instead of "a unusual request". Remember that "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

Common error

A common mistake is using "a" before words starting with a vowel sound. To avoid this, remember that "an" should precede words like "unusual", "hour", or "honest", even if the first letter is a consonant but has a vowel sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unusual request" is intended to function as a noun phrase, specifically to describe a demand or appeal that deviates from the norm or expectation. However, it fails to do so grammatically.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a unusual request" is grammatically incorrect and should be "an unusual request". As noted by Ludwig AI, the indefinite article "an" is required before words starting with a vowel sound. While there are no correct examples of the phrase in the provided search data, semantically related alternatives include "an extraordinary request" or "a peculiar request". The intended purpose of using this phrase (when corrected) is to describe a request that is atypical or unexpected, and its register is generally neutral, suitable for various communication contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

An extraordinary request

Emphasizes the exceptional nature of the request.

A peculiar request

Highlights the odd or strange aspect of the request.

An odd request

Focuses on the unconventional nature of the request.

A singular request

Stresses the uniqueness of the request.

A remarkable request

Underlines the noteworthy or surprising quality of the request.

An unprecedented request

Implies that the request has never been made before.

Atypical requirement

Replaces request with requirement to change sentence structure, while maintaing the sense of unusuality.

Uncommon application

Replaces request with application to change sentence structure, while maintaing the sense of unusuality.

Atypical proposition

Replaces request with proposition to change sentence structure, while maintaing the sense of unusuality.

Unconventional suggestion

Replaces request with suggestion to change sentence structure, while maintaing the sense of unusuality.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "a unusual request"?

The correct way to phrase it is "an unusual request". The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What is a synonym for "an unusual request"?

You could use phrases like "a peculiar request", "an odd request", or "an extraordinary request" as alternatives.

How can I use the phrase "an unusual request" in a sentence?

Example: "The client made an unusual request for the project, asking for a complete redesign at the last minute."

Is there a difference between "a unusual request" and "an unusual request"?

Yes, "a unusual request" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "an unusual request". The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, such as 'unusual'.