an negative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an negative" is not correct in written English.
The correct article to use before "negative" is "a" since "negative" begins with a consonant sound. Example: "It is important to address a negative attitude in the workplace."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

The solitary wave states generated by applying a positive impulse followed immediately by an negative impulse, of equal amplitude and duration, is dependent on the period of forcing.

Journal of Computational Physics

The first M indicates that the time interval between two taxis arrived in succession, which is represented by T, follows an negative exponential distribution with rate λ.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

The goal secured a 10th successive win in Europa League competition for Atletico but there was an negative note with Tiago's dismissal.

BBC

The limited or shallow charge discharge cycling utilizing such facile and reversible action of the CedgeO/Cedge OLi of the disordered carbon is suited to an application for an negative electrode of asymmetric hybrid capacitors.

Electrochimica Acta

The CSNS complex consists of an negative hydrogen linear accelerator, a rapid cycling proton synchrotron accelerating the beam to 1.6 GeV energy, a solid tungsten target station, and instruments for spallation neutron applications.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Briefly, we begin with exfoliated graphene, fabricate metal electrodes using standard electron beam (e-beam) lithography procedures, pattern an etch mask using an negative e-beam resist, and etch away unprotected graphene using an oxygen plasma etch.

Nano Convergence

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

To turn a negative into a positive.

The Guardian

"Both a positive and a negative liberty.

The New York Times - Books

This is a positive, not a negative".

The New York Times - Sports

Turn a negative into a positive".

Science Magazine

A negative can be a positive.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "a" before the word "negative" since it begins with a consonant sound. For example, use "a negative impact" instead of "an negative impact".

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words that begin with a consonant sound. This error often occurs when writers focus on the adjective modifying a noun rather than the noun itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an negative" functions as an incorrect adjectival modifier due to a grammatical error. It attempts to describe a noun but fails because of improper article usage. Ludwig AI identifies this as an error and recommends using "a negative" instead.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

45%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The query "an negative" is a grammatically incorrect phrase due to the improper use of the article "an" before the word "negative", which begins with a consonant sound. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, the correct form is "a negative". Despite its incorrectness, "an negative" appears in various contexts, as shown by the examples identified by Ludwig, including scientific papers and news articles, suggesting that it's a relatively common error. When aiming for correct grammar, it's essential to use "a" before words starting with consonant sounds and "an" before words starting with vowel sounds. Semantically appropriate alternatives include "a detrimental" or "an adverse" followed by the appropriate noun.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a negative

Corrects the article to "a" to agree with the consonant sound of "negative".

a detrimental

Replaces "negative" with a synonym emphasizing harm or damage.

an adverse

Replaces "negative" with a synonym indicating unfavorable circumstances.

a harmful

Replaces "negative" with a synonym highlighting potential for harm.

a disadvantageous

Replaces "negative" with a synonym emphasizing a lack of advantage.

an unfavorable

Replaces "negative" with a synonym suggesting disapproval or lack of support.

a counterproductive

Replaces "negative" with a synonym suggesting something that hinders progress.

a pessimistic

Replaces "negative" with a synonym focusing on a belief that things will turn out badly.

a bleak

Replaces "negative" with a synonym emphasizing a lack of hope or optimism.

a problematic

Replaces "negative" with a synonym indicating the presence of problems or difficulties.

FAQs

What is the correct article to use before "negative"?

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

What can I say instead of "an negative impact"?

You can use alternatives like "a negative impact", "a detrimental effect", or "an adverse consequence" depending on the context.

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

"A negative" is the correct phrase. The article "a" is used before words that start with a consonant sound, while "an" is used before words that start with a vowel sound.

Why is "an negative" grammatically incorrect?

"An" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. Since "negative" starts with the consonant "n", the correct article is "a". Using "an negative" is a common grammatical error.