an harmless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an harmless" is not correct in written English.
The correct form is "a harmless" because "harmless" begins with a consonant sound. Example: "The substance is considered a harmless additive in food products."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When not so long thereafter she came to write her Vindication of the Rights of Men (1790), Wollstonecraft attacked Edmund Burke for having set upon an harmless elderly preacher in his Reflections; yet her own review justifies Burke's depiction of Price's sermon as inflammatory.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And also a harmless drunk, a notion the film has a bit more trouble sustaining.

The New York Times

A harmless habit, a rather human one, you'd think.

Vice

Is there such a thing as a harmless lie?

Huffington Post

Samuel Johnson defines a lexicographer as a "harmless drudge" [ 1].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

You think you're so clever, killing a harmless iPad with a shotgun slug.

TechCrunch

They've woken a sleeping giant, not a harmless frog.

Huffington Post

Was he just a harmless eccentric or a fraud?

Vice

A placebo treatment is a harmless treatment delivered at less than the effective dose.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

A belt-high fastball can become a harmless pop-up.

The New York Times

A harmless, but horrifying experience for a pastor.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound, like "harmless". The correct phrase is "a harmless".

Common error

Avoid using the article "an" before words starting with a consonant sound. "An" is reserved for words beginning with a vowel sound, regardless of the actual letter. For example, it's correct to say "an hour" but incorrect to say "an harmless" because "harmless" starts with a consonant sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an harmless" functions as an adjective phrase intended to describe something as not dangerous or harmful. However, this use is grammatically incorrect as Ludwig AI points out. The correct form is "a harmless."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

8%

Reference

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an harmless" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "a harmless". As Ludwig AI explains, the error stems from using "an" before a word that begins with a consonant sound. Although the intended meaning—to describe something as non-threatening—is often clear, the grammatical mistake makes the phrase unsuitable for formal writing. Consider using alternatives like "a benign" or "a safe" for clarity and correctness. Despite appearing in various sources, including news and media, adhering to proper grammar ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a harmless

Corrects the grammatical error of using "an" before a consonant sound.

a benign

Replaces "harmless" with a synonym suggesting gentleness and lack of threat.

a safe

Replaces "harmless" with a synonym indicating no danger or risk.

a non-threatening

Replaces "harmless" with a descriptive adjective phrase emphasizing the absence of menace.

not dangerous

Uses a negative construction to express the lack of danger.

not harmful

Uses a negative construction with a synonym of "harmless".

inoffensive

Suggests something that does not cause displeasure or resentment.

innocuous

Implies something unlikely to cause harm or disturbance.

without risk

Focuses on the absence of potential danger.

posing no threat

Emphasizes the lack of any menacing quality.

FAQs

Why is "an harmless" grammatically incorrect?

The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. Since "harmless" begins with a consonant sound, the correct article to use is "a", making the correct phrase "a harmless".

What's the correct way to use "harmless" in a sentence?

Always precede "harmless" with the article "a" (a harmless). For example: "The substance is considered "a harmless additive" in food products."

What are some alternatives to saying "an harmless"?

Since the phrase is grammatically incorrect, you should use "a harmless". Alternatives include "a benign", "a safe", or "a non-threatening".

Is there a situation where "an harmless" would be correct?

No, "an harmless" is never grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is always "a harmless".