an connection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an connection" is not correct in written English; it should be "a connection." You can use "a connection" when referring to a link or relationship between two or more things.
Example: "There is a strong connection between exercise and mental health."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

1.07pm GMT Labour's Jenny Chapman asks if there is an connection between the number of unqualified maths teachers in schools and skills shortages in the labour market.

The Guardian

This allows healthcare professionals to continue working even when they are out of range of a network signal, if data can be temporarily held locally and securely on the devices and uploaded to central servers when an connection becomes available.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A coincidence or a connection?

The New York Times - Science

"But a smile can start a connection.

The New York Times

They see a connection.

The New York Times

Was there a connection?

The New York Times

"They need a connection".

The New York Times

Is there a connection?

The New York Times

To make a connection".

The New Yorker

There is a connection.

The New York Times

Anyone see a connection there?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct article ('a' or 'an') based on the phonetic sound of the following word. Use 'a' before consonant sounds and 'an' before vowel sounds. For instance, use "a connection", not "an connection".

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words that start with a consonant sound, even if the letter is a vowel. For example, 'an university' is incorrect; it should be 'a university' because 'university' starts with a 'y' sound, which is a consonant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an connection" is grammatically incorrect. Its intended function is to indicate a link or relationship, but the incorrect article makes the phrase non-standard. Ludwig AI detects that this phrase is not correct in written English; it should be "a connection."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an connection" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "a connection". This error arises from misusing the indefinite article "an" before a word starting with a consonant sound. As Ludwig AI points out, the article "an" is reserved for words beginning with vowel sounds. While the intended meaning is to indicate a link or relationship, the grammatical error undermines its effectiveness, especially in formal contexts. Remember to use "a connection" for grammatical correctness. The article "a" should be used with consonant sounds. Alternative expressions such as ""a link"" or ""a relationship"" can also be employed to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a connection

Corrects the article from 'an' to 'a' to match the consonant sound of 'connection'.

a link

Replaces 'connection' with 'link', using 'a' because 'link' starts with a consonant sound.

a relationship

Substitutes 'connection' with 'relationship', using 'a' because 'relationship' starts with a consonant sound.

a bond

Uses 'bond' instead of 'connection', implying a stronger relationship; requires 'a'.

a tie

Replaces 'connection' with 'tie', suggesting a link that binds things together; requires 'a'.

an association

Uses 'association' to mean a connection or link, which correctly uses the article 'an'.

a correlation

Replaces 'connection' with 'correlation', implying a statistical relationship; requires 'a'.

an interrelation

Uses 'interrelation' to denote a mutual relationship, which correctly uses the article 'an'.

a coherence

Replaces 'connection' with 'coherence', indicating a logical link; requires 'a'.

an alignment

Uses 'alignment' to signify agreement or correspondence, which correctly uses the article 'an'.

FAQs

Why is it incorrect to say "an connection"?

The correct article to use before the word "connection" is "a", not "an". The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, while "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. "Connection" starts with a consonant sound.

What can I say instead of "an connection"?

Since "an connection" is grammatically incorrect, the correct phrase is "a connection". You could also use alternatives such as "a link" or "a relationship".

When should I use "a" versus "an"?

Use "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound (e.g., a car, a house). Use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound (e.g., an apple, an hour). It's the sound, not just the letter, that matters.

Is there a difference between "a connection" and "an association"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but the choice depends on the specific noun you're using. "Connection" requires the article "a" ("a connection"), while "association" requires the article "an" ("an association") because of their initial sounds. They also have slightly different connotations; a connection implies a link, while an association suggests a group or affiliation.