an anger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an anger" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically not used because "anger" is an uncountable noun and does not require an article like "an." Example: "She felt a surge of anger when she heard the news."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

"I still have an anger problem".

The New York Times

I don't have an anger issue.

The New York Times

He also has an anger.

The Guardian

It's an anger I share.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I feel an anger I find difficult to express because it's an anger in both directions".

The Guardian

He had an anger in him that was unbelievable.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

It was an anger-type incident.

The New York Times

Do you think you have an anger-management problem?

The New York Times - Magazine

There is Sharon's husband, a retrograde fellow who has flunked an anger-management class.

The New York Times

We obtained the flood image with an Anger-type calculation.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

The temptation may be large enough that an anger-triggering wage decrease may be profitable.

Latin American Economic Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the emotion of anger, use "anger" as an uncountable noun without the article "an". For instance, say "He felt anger" instead of "He felt an anger".

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "an" before uncountable nouns like "anger". Instead, use constructions like "a feeling of anger" or simply "anger".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an anger" functions primarily as a noun phrase, though its grammatical correctness is questionable. Ludwig indicates that using "an" before "anger" is typically incorrect because "anger" is generally considered an uncountable noun. However, the examples show some instances of its usage, albeit in contexts where it might be considered non-standard.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "an anger" appears frequently in various sources, including news and media, Ludwig's AI suggests it is grammatically questionable because "anger" is typically an uncountable noun. A more appropriate phrasing would be "a feeling of anger" or simply "anger" without the article. Although the examples from Ludwig illustrate some instances of the phrase's usage, particularly in informal contexts, it is advisable to avoid using "an anger" in formal writing to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a feeling of anger

Replaces the direct article "an" with "a feeling of" to align with standard grammatical structure.

a surge of anger

Indicates a sudden and powerful onset of anger.

a sense of anger

Emphasizes an awareness or perception of anger.

a wave of anger

Suggests anger that builds and passes like a wave.

an outburst of anger

Highlights an uncontrolled expression of anger.

a fit of anger

Describes a sudden, intense, and often uncontrollable display of anger.

a well of anger

Conveys a deep, underlying reservoir of anger.

a display of anger

Focuses on the outward manifestation of anger.

simmering anger

Suggests a suppressed, yet intense, feeling of anger.

latent anger

Describes anger that is hidden or not yet expressed.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "an anger"?

No, the phrase "an anger" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. "Anger" is an uncountable noun, and uncountable nouns do not typically take the indefinite article "an". You should instead say "anger" or "a feeling of anger".

What are some alternatives to saying "an anger"?

Instead of "an anger", you can use phrases like "a feeling of anger", "a surge of anger", or simply "anger".

How can I properly use the word "anger" in a sentence?

Use "anger" as an uncountable noun. For example: "His anger was palpable", or "She struggled to control her anger". You could also say "She expressed "a lot of anger"".

When should I use the word "anger" without an article?

Use "anger" without an article when referring to the emotion in a general sense. For instance: "Anger is a powerful emotion". Avoid using "an" before "anger" in most contexts.