an hostile

USAGE SUMMARY

'an hostile' is not correct or usable in written English; the word you are looking for is 'hostile'.
Example: The two nations have an increasingly hostile relationship.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"For the Shias the west represents an elite that is allied to an hostile regime," said Samina Ahmed, south Asia director of the International Crisis Group.

The Guardian

He said the meeting at which the group had been initially arrested concerned the most mundane issues of digital security training and working in an hostile environment.

The Guardian

Grownups and kids are united in their fear and loathing of the social services officer, keen to put Sam away in an orphanage, played by Tilda Swinton in an electric-blue outfit, like an hostile insurgent from another planet.

The Guardian - Film

During these long-term space travels and stays far away from Earth in an hostile environment as well as far for example from any hospital and surgery potential, it will be necessary to know much more about chemical and drug contamination in the special sense and by human's themselves in detail.

Advances in Space Research

Rather than taking action to rectify the problems, Theresa May, when she was home secretary, only exacerbated the situation by introducing the idea of an "hostile environment" – a euphemism if ever there was one – which almost certainly influenced some people into voting for Brexit.

The Guardian

If a user shares a news article of an hostile media outlet, it does not necessarily mean that he is vouching for it - he might simply make fun of it.

EPJ Data Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

This seems an effective response to a hostile funding environment".

The Guardian

So how can a merger happen in a hostile takeover?

Harvard University

Was this a hostile act by a presumptuous male painter?

The New York Times

Additionally, the effect of a hostile, compared to a non-hostile injury, on mental health was tested.

BMC Psychiatry

Space is a hostile place, even inside a spacecraft.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct article ("a" or "an") based on the sound of the following word. Use "a" before words that start with a consonant sound and "an" before words that start with a vowel sound. Therefore, replace "an hostile" with "a hostile".

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words starting with a consonant sound. This error often occurs when writers focus on the letter rather than the sound. Therefore, do not use "an" before the word "hostile".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an hostile" attempts to function as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. However, this phrase fails due to the incorrect article usage, as noted by Ludwig. The indefinite article "an" is used before vowel sounds, not consonant sounds.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an hostile" is grammatically incorrect because the article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, while "hostile" begins with a consonant sound. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct phrase is "a hostile". Alternatives include using synonyms like "a threatening" or "a belligerent", depending on the specific context. Always remember to match the article to the sound of the following word to avoid such grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a hostile

Replaces "an" with "a" to match the consonant sound of "hostile", fixing the article usage.

hostile

Omits the article altogether, which can be grammatically correct depending on the sentence structure.

a threatening

Substitutes "hostile" with "threatening", providing a synonym with a similar negative connotation. "A" is the correct article.

a belligerent

Uses "belligerent" as a more formal synonym for "hostile", with "a" as the correct article.

an antagonistic

Replaces "hostile" with "antagonistic", changing both the adjective and the article to the proper grammatical structure.

a combative

Offers "combative" as a synonym, implying a readiness to fight or argue. "A" is the correct article.

a fierce

Employs "fierce" to describe intense hostility or aggression. "A" is the correct article.

a confrontational

Replaces "hostile" with "confrontational", indicating a tendency to engage in conflict. "A" is the correct article.

a negative

Uses "negative" as a broader term for something unfavorable or opposing. "A" is the correct article.

an unfriendly

Uses "unfriendly" as a simple and direct substitute, implying a lack of warmth or kindness. Changes both the adjective and the article to the proper grammatical structure.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the article before "hostile"?

The correct article to use before "hostile" is "a" because "hostile" begins with a consonant sound. Therefore, the correct phrase is "a hostile".

Is "an hostile" grammatically correct?

No, "an hostile" is grammatically incorrect. The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, while "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. Since "hostile" begins with a consonant sound, the correct form is "a hostile".

What can I say instead of "an hostile"?

Since "an hostile" is grammatically incorrect, you should use "a hostile". Alternatively, depending on the context, you could use just "hostile" without any article.

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

"An hostile" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "a hostile", where the article "a" precedes words starting with a consonant sound, like "hostile".