an cornerstone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an cornerstone" is not correct in written English; it should be "a cornerstone." You can use "a cornerstone" when referring to something that is fundamental or essential to a particular concept, structure, or system.
Example: "Trust is a cornerstone of any successful relationship."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Justice Department announced on Wednesday that after two years of defending the law — hailed by proponents in 1996 as an cornerstone in the protection of traditional values — the president and his attorney general have concluded it is unconstitutional.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"This is a cornerstone of a country's competitiveness.

The Economist

–Why is "competition" a cornerstone of a free market economy?

The New York Times

Dissent is a cornerstone of a democracy.

Huffington Post

A cornerstone of a long-lasting relationship is friendship.

WikiHow

Not a great amount for a cornerstone, is it?

Independent

RNA is a cornerstone of modern biology, a cornerstone of genetics, inheritance, and evolution.

Huffington Post

A credible and very humane take on a cornerstone story.

The Guardian - Books

El Bajío A cornerstone of traditional fare.

The New York Times

Catholicism also remains a cornerstone.

The New York Times

"It is like a cornerstone.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "a" before "cornerstone" unless it is preceded by an adjective that requires "an" (e.g., "an enduring cornerstone").

Common error

Avoid using "an" before "cornerstone". The correct article is "a", as "cornerstone" begins with a consonant sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an cornerstone" is intended to function as a noun phrase complement, identifying a fundamental or essential element. However, it fails to do so due to incorrect grammar. Ludwig AI confirms that the correct form is "a cornerstone."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an cornerstone" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "a cornerstone". This phrase is used to emphasize the fundamental or essential nature of something. While it appears in various contexts, it is relatively rare and Ludwig AI flagged its grammatical issue. When using this phrase, remember to use the correct article, "a", unless an adjective requiring "an" precedes "cornerstone".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fundamental element

Replaces "cornerstone" with a more general term for a basic component, also correcting the article.

a key component

Substitutes "cornerstone" with a common synonym, also correcting the article.

a core element

Uses a synonym for fundamental and primary, also correcting the article.

a central aspect

Changes "cornerstone" to a less architectural term, focusing on the core importance, and correcting the article.

a building block

Uses a different architectural metaphor similar to "cornerstone", also correcting the article.

a foundation

Replaces the 'cornerstone' metaphor with another similar term, correcting the article.

an essential ingredient

Replaces "cornerstone" with a metaphor related to recipes, highlighting the necessity of the item but also correcting the article to "an" based on the phrase.

a basic principle

Shifts from a concrete image to an abstract concept while maintaining the idea of fundamentality, also correcting the article.

a crucial factor

Emphasizes the importance of the element, moving away from the architectural metaphor, also correcting the article.

a vital part

Highlights the necessity of the element for the whole, also correcting the article.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "an cornerstone"?

No, it is not correct. The grammatically correct phrase is "a cornerstone". The article "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound.

What does "a cornerstone" mean?

The phrase "a cornerstone" refers to something essential, fundamental, or indispensable, upon which something else depends or is based. It's like the literal cornerstone of a building, which provides crucial support.

What can I say instead of "a cornerstone"?

You can use alternatives like "a fundamental element", "a key component", or "a central aspect" depending on the context.

How to use "a cornerstone" in a sentence?

Example: "Trust is "a cornerstone" of any successful relationship."