an heartfelt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an heartfelt" is not correct in written English.
The correct form is "a heartfelt" because "heartfelt" begins with a consonant sound. Example: "She wrote a heartfelt letter to her friend, expressing her gratitude and support."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Given that this Peter Sohn film was simultaneously a western, a road picture and an heartfelt boy-and-his-dog story that just happened to be built around an 18 foot-tall / 11 year-old apatosaurus and a feral but friendly caveboy.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Williams offered an unqualified admission and a heartfelt apology.

The New York Times

He lends the tale both a heartfelt sensitivity and an exhilarating visual energy.

The New Yorker

A heartfelt plea or a wily know-your-enemy stratagem?

The New York Times - Arts

Put like that, it sounds somewhere between a gut feeling and a heartfelt wish.

The New York Times

After all, a handmade gift is a heartfelt effort!

Huffington Post

"Memoria" is a heartfelt communal ritual requiring a large cast.

The New York Times

A heartfelt thank you for a wonderful time".

The Guardian - Sport

Even a heartfelt saying written on a scrap of paper may suffice.

WikiHow

Kendrick infuses her character, an aspiring actress, with hope and a heartfelt longing for lasting love.

Los Angeles Times

In 1989, Merullo responded with a heartfelt protest, which Royko featured in a column.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "a" before "heartfelt" because the word begins with a consonant sound. For example, say "a heartfelt apology" not "an heartfelt apology".

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words that start with a consonant sound, even if the first letter is a vowel that is pronounced as a consonant (e.g., "an historic" is becoming less common; prefer "a historic").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an heartfelt" attempts to function as an adjective modifying a noun. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig identifies this as an error due to the improper use of the article "an" before a consonant sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an heartfelt" is grammatically incorrect. As noted by Ludwig, the correct form is "a heartfelt" because the word "heartfelt" begins with a consonant sound. While the intention is to convey sincerity, the incorrect grammar undermines the message's credibility. It's crucial to use "a heartfelt" or consider alternatives such as "a sincere" or "a genuine" to ensure grammatical accuracy. Despite appearing in some news and wiki contexts, avoiding this error enhances clarity and professionalism in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sincere

Replaces "heartfelt" with "sincere" and corrects the article to "a".

a genuine

Replaces "heartfelt" with "genuine" and corrects the article to "a".

a deeply felt

Replaces "heartfelt" with "deeply felt" and corrects the article to "a".

a truly heartfelt

Adds "truly" for emphasis while maintaining the core meaning and corrects the article to "a".

a very heartfelt

Adds "very" for emphasis while maintaining the core meaning and corrects the article to "a".

a heartfelt and genuine

Combines "heartfelt" with "genuine" for redundancy in emphasis and corrects the article to "a".

a most heartfelt

Uses "most" to intensify the feeling and corrects the article to "a".

a profoundly heartfelt

Emphasizes the depth of the feeling and corrects the article to "a".

a deeply emotional

Replaces "heartfelt" with "deeply emotional" to focus on the emotional aspect and corrects the article to "a".

a warmhearted

Replaces "heartfelt" with the single-word synonym "warmhearted" and corrects the article to "a".

FAQs

Why is "an heartfelt" grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "an heartfelt" is incorrect because the article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, not a consonant sound. The word "heartfelt" begins with the consonant 'h', so the correct article to use is "a", making "a heartfelt" the correct phrase.

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

Since "an heartfelt" is grammatically incorrect, you should use "a heartfelt". Alternatives include "a sincere", "a genuine", or "a deeply felt".

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

"A heartfelt" is the correct phrase. The article "a" should be used before words that begin with a consonant sound, while "an" is reserved for words that begin with a vowel sound.

What is the difference between "a heartfelt" and "a sincere"?

While both "a heartfelt" and "a sincere" convey genuine emotion, "heartfelt" implies a deeper, more profound emotion originating from the heart, whereas "sincere" suggests honesty and genuineness without necessarily implying deep emotion.