an greater

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an greater" is not correct in written English.
It should be "a greater" instead, as "greater" begins with a consonant sound. Example: "This is a greater challenge than I anticipated."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Al(OH 3 coated Li[Li0.2Ni0.2Mn0.6]O2 exhibited an greater retention capacity at higher rates compared to uncoated Li[Li0.2Ni0.2Mn0.6]O2.

Electrochimica Acta

For example we can infer that atoms are solid and that heat is an greater rate of motion of atoms while cold is a slower motion.

SEP

The research indicates that it has an greater influence on the maximum highway volume and free flow speed as the rainfall intensity increases.

Transportation Research Procedia

Quality is always an greater issue for scanning photos than documents.

Huffington Post

That sort of impasse could create an greater crisis in which insurance companies offer more expensive plans and healthy people therefore forego coverage.

Huffington Post

With energy demand, predicted to rise 20% through 2025, NOCs are poised to have even an greater impact on the global economy, and in shaping oil producing countries' foreign policies.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A great guy and a great baker.

Independent

A great novel and a great film.

The New Yorker

A great player and a great person".

BBC

A Great.

The New York Times

"A great reporter.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound, and "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound. Replace "an greater" with "a greater" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words that start with a consonant sound. While some words may begin with a vowel but have a consonant sound (like "university"), "greater" clearly starts with a consonant sound, so "a greater" is always correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an greater" functions as a determiner followed by an adjective, attempting to modify a noun. However, it is grammatically incorrect as the article "an" is inappropriately used before a word beginning with a consonant sound. As Ludwig AI highlights, the correct form is "a greater".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an greater" is a grammatically incorrect construction. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "a greater", as "a" should precede words starting with a consonant sound. While some instances appear in news and scientific articles, the error detracts from the writing's credibility. It's important to use "a" instead of "an" before words like "greater" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. Alternative phrases such as "a larger" or "a more significant" can also be used depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a greater

Corrects the grammatical error by using 'a' before a consonant sound.

a larger

Replaces 'greater' with a synonym emphasizing size or amount.

a more significant

Replaces 'greater' with a phrase indicating increased importance.

a higher

Uses 'higher' as a synonym for 'greater', often in numerical or hierarchical contexts.

a more substantial

Emphasizes the increased amount or impact of something.

a considerable

Indicates a noteworthy or significant degree.

an increased

Uses 'increased' to emphasize the action of becoming greater.

a marked

Highlights a noticeable or distinct increase.

a noticeable

Highlights a easily seen or heard increase.

a more pronounced

Emphasizes a more distinct or obvious increase.

FAQs

How to correct the phrase "an greater" in a sentence?

The correct form is to use "a greater". The article 'a' is used before words that begin with a consonant sound, while 'an' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What are some alternatives to "an greater" that I can use?

Instead of "an greater", you can use phrases like "a larger", "a more significant", or "a higher" depending on the context.

Is it ever correct to use "an" before a word starting with 'g'?

Generally, no. The article "an" is used before words starting with a vowel sound. Since 'g' in "greater" produces a consonant sound, "a greater" is the grammatically correct choice.

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

"A greater" is the correct form. "An greater" violates basic English grammar rules concerning article usage.