an number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an number of" is not correct in written English.
The correct form is "a number of," which is used to indicate an unspecified quantity of something. Example: "There are a number of reasons why we should consider this proposal."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Life expectancy of women was higher than life expectancy of men in all countries.> -wrap-foot> anumberber of available observations in the study period; SD: standard error of the Gini index within each country over time Figure  1 shows the trends of the Gini index experienced by the seven European regions over this period.

European Journal of Epidemiology

Ivory Coast Has seen an number of coup attempts.

Independent

About had discussions with an number of parties, Mr. Kurnit said, declining to identify them, before settling last week on the deal with Primedia.

The New York Times

After the death of her first husband in 1634, Lady Stanhope was courted by an number of grandees including the son of Sir Walter Raleigh.

The Guardian - Arts

Then there are an number of ballets that show his contribution to the progress of opera and ballet as a genre," Gergiev said.

Independent

"She is very tough, Cherie," said Nick Martin, chief executive of Matrix, the human-rights-minded law firm set up in a blaze of publicity by Ms. Booth and an number of other high-profile lawyers last spring.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

A: There are a number of them.

The New Yorker

"A number of things.

The New York Times - Sports

A number of reasons.

The New York Times

A number of successes followed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A number of hurdles remain.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "a number of" instead of "an number of". The article 'a' is correct before the noun 'number'.

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words starting with a consonant sound. Remember that 'number' begins with a consonant sound, so the correct article is 'a'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an number of" is grammatically incorrect and does not function as a standard grammatical unit in English. The correct form, "a number of", serves as a determiner indicating a quantity greater than one.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an number of" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "a number of", where 'a' is used before 'number' because it begins with a consonant sound. As Ludwig AI confirms, "an number of" is incorrect. To convey the intended meaning of quantity, use alternatives like "several", "various", or "numerous". Always ensure the correct article usage to maintain grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a number of

Corrects the grammatical error by using the correct article 'a' instead of 'an'.

several

Replaces the phrase with a single word indicating more than two but not many.

various

Indicates that there are different types or instances of something.

a variety of

Emphasizes the diversity within the group being discussed.

numerous

Suggests a large quantity or amount.

many

A simple and direct way to indicate a large quantity.

a multitude of

Implies a very large number, often suggesting an overwhelming amount.

a great deal of

Suitable for uncountable nouns, indicating a significant quantity.

quite a few

Indicates a moderate number, more than a few but not excessive.

a good number of

Similar to 'quite a few', suggesting a reasonably large quantity.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "an number of"?

The correct phrase is "a number of". The article 'a' should be used before words that begin with a consonant sound.

What can I say instead of "an number of"?

Since "an number of" is grammatically incorrect, you should use alternatives like "several", "various", or "numerous" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "an number of" or "a number of"?

"A number of" is the correct phrase. "An number of" is grammatically incorrect because the word 'number' begins with a consonant sound, requiring the article 'a'.

When should I use "a number of"?

Use "a number of" to indicate an unspecified quantity of something. For example, "A number of people attended the meeting".