an note

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an note" is not correct in written English.
It should be "a note" instead, as "note" begins with a consonant sound. Example: "Please leave a note for me on the table."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

L. 112 239, set out as an note under section 2366a of this title.

Cornell University

Just an note about lCD's they are GREAT but they also break down sooner or later and the way they are built now a days sooner is the choice.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"The low quality of the beat will likely be viewed negatively by investors," Catherine J. Arnold, an analyst at Credit Suisse, wrote in an note to investors on Tuesday, "although there may be some relief that consumer sales did not fall even further than they did given the issues that J.& J. is dealing with in that business".

The New York Times

"We believe that this is the beginning of the realization that a sustainable turnaround in India's growth prospects would require considerable effort, well beyond the burst of measures seen in September," Deutsche Bank said last week in an note with the headline, "Reality Check".

The New York Times

Several Wall Street research shops didn’t seem to share Ward's favorable view as Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and Raymond James all cut their rating on RIM shares, but Canaccord Adams tech analyst Peter Misek suggested buying shares on weakness in an note Thursday.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This will produce an A note.

WikiHow

A note of a smell.

Vice

Include a note or a card.

WikiHow

Pick a scale/mode for a note.

WikiHow

Please send a note.

The New York Times

Not even a note.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the article 'a' or 'an' agrees with the sound of the following word, not necessarily the spelling. For example: "a university" (because "university" sounds like it starts with 'y') but "an hour" (because the 'h' is silent).

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words that start with a consonant sound, even if the letter is a vowel (e.g. "an user" is incorrect; use "a user").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an note" functions as an incorrect article-noun combination. Ludwig AI identifies that the indefinite article "an" should only precede words starting with a vowel sound. Since "note" begins with a consonant sound, the correct form is "a note".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an note" is grammatically incorrect in English, as identified by Ludwig AI. The correct usage is "a note" because the word "note" begins with a consonant sound. While Ludwig provides examples of the incorrect phrase in various contexts, its use should be avoided in formal writing. Common contexts where this phrase appears include news, academic writing, and wikis; however, correctness should always be prioritized. Remember to use "a" before words starting with a consonant sound and "an" before words starting with a vowel sound.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a note

Corrects the article usage based on the consonant sound of "note".

a written message

Replaces "note" with a more descriptive noun phrase.

a short communication

Provides a formal alternative for "note".

a brief memo

Offers a business-oriented synonym for "note".

a quick reminder

Suggests a purpose-driven alternative to "note".

a small piece of information

Replaces the term with an expanded description.

a scrap of paper

Highlights the physical aspect of a note.

a jot

Presents a concise synonym for "note".

a line

Suggests a simple, brief note.

a comment

Focuses on the content of the note.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "an note"?

The grammatically correct way is to say "a note" because "note" begins with a consonant sound.

When should I use "a" versus "an"?

Use "a" before words that start with a consonant sound (e.g., "a cat", "a house"). Use "an" before words that start with a vowel sound (e.g., "an apple", "an hour"). It's the sound that matters, not the letter itself.

What are some alternatives to writing "a note"?

Depending on the context, you could say "a message", "a memo", "a reminder", or "a communication".

Is "an historical event" correct?

While some style guides permit "an historical event", it's more common and generally preferred to say "a historical event" in modern English. The choice depends on pronunciation and style preference.