an hideous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an hideous" is not correct in written English.
The correct article to use before "hideous" is "a" because "hideous" begins with a consonant sound. Example: "It was a hideous sight that no one could forget."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

(One Boston poet wrote, "Here might be heard an hideous Indian cry, / Of wounded ones who in the wigwams fry").

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They flank an interior in which a hideous partial carcass is propped up before a window.

The New York Times - Arts

(We currently have a mani and a hideous polish color, at that). 3. Champagne.

Huffington Post

Behind the young family sat an ancient man with a hideous cough and work-hardened hands.

The New York Times - Travel

He has a hideous temper and a tendency to bully.

The Economist

Watching the Watergate hearings, she sits through a commercial in which "a hideous family pledged itself to margarine".

The New York Times - Books

It was a hideous end to a hideous day.

BBC

A hideous girl but a girl," Yiannopoulos responded.

Huffington Post

At first, it seemed a hideous end to a happy holiday.

Huffington Post

The veil as a general proposition has a hideous and deathly quality.

Huffington Post

Wilkes was extremely ugly, with a hideous squint, but had a charm that carried all before it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "a" before the word "hideous" because it begins with a consonant sound. For example, say "a hideous monster" instead of "an hideous monster".

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words that start with a consonant sound, even if the first letter is a vowel pronounced as a consonant (like 'an hour' vs 'a university'). Double-check the pronunciation to ensure correct article usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an hideous" functions as a noun phrase modifier, where "hideous" describes a noun, but the incorrect article usage undermines its grammatical validity. Ludwig AI indicates that it should be "a hideous".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "an hideous" aims to describe something as extremely unpleasant, it's grammatically incorrect due to the improper use of the article "an" before a word starting with a consonant sound. As Ludwig AI clarified, the correct usage is "a hideous". Although examples can be found, mainly in news and media, it is important to use the correct article to maintain grammatical accuracy. Consider using alternatives like "a dreadful" or "a monstrous" to convey a similar meaning without grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a dreadful

Replaces "hideous" with "dreadful" and corrects the article usage.

a monstrous

Replaces "hideous" with "monstrous" and corrects the article usage.

an abhorrent

Changes the adjective to "abhorrent" to emphasize the repulsiveness.

an odious

Uses "odious" instead of "hideous" to convey strong dislike and unpleasantness.

a ghastly

Replaces "hideous" with "ghastly", emphasizing the unpleasant and shocking nature.

a repulsive

Replaces "hideous" with "repulsive" to focus on causing disgust.

a revolting

Uses "revolting" to highlight the disgusting quality.

a gruesome

Replaces "hideous" with "gruesome", implying something shockingly repellent.

a frightful

Changes "hideous" to "frightful", emphasizing the alarming aspect.

a macabre

Replaces "hideous" with "macabre", indicating something morbid and disturbing.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "an hideous"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is "a hideous" because the word "hideous" begins with a consonant sound. The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What's the difference between "a hideous" and "an hideous"?

The only difference is grammatical correctness. "A hideous" is correct because "hideous" starts with a consonant sound, while "an hideous" violates this rule.

Which article should I use before adjectives starting with 'h'?

It depends on the pronunciation. If the 'h' is pronounced (as in "hideous"), use "a". If the 'h' is silent (as in "hour"), use "an". For example, you would say "a hideous sight" and "an hour".

What can I say instead of "an hideous"?

Since "an hideous" is grammatically incorrect, you can use alternatives like "a dreadful", "a monstrous", or another adjective that fits the context, always preceded by the correct article.