an significant

USAGE SUMMARY

'an significant' is not correct in written English, and it should not be used.
The correct phrase is 'a significant'. For example, "This project has a significant impact on the environment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Other than Cushman & Wakefield, no one else has an significant market share, so we see opportunities to grow".

The New York Times

exfoliated graphite has seen an significant reduction in electrical resistivity from 1.58 to 0.5 Ω cm.

Carbon

In the European election polling, the only minor party to record an significant score that is not separately shown is the Scottish Nationalists, who are on 3%.

The Guardian

Results show that the distribution of shear stresses in the panel presents an significant variation depending on the stacking sequence.

Composite Structures

The porous structure of the calcined catalysts exhibited an significant change when Zr/Al ratio reached 0.5.

Catalysis Today

The samples composited with (NiZn)Fe2O4 nanoparticles have an significant enhancement of permeability in comparison with uncoated ones.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

You had your mini-Oprah moment when Farhad [Manjoo] wrote a piece about your sweatshirt, calling it the greatest hoodie ever made and you saw an significant increase in demand for your product.

The Guardian - Business

Today, Ed Miliband and I are visiting Bolton Royal Hospital, which has recently seen an significant upgrading in its maternity and neo-natal provision following a review of services across Greater Manchester.

The Guardian - Opinion

The new estimates are based not on an significant increase in pollution, but on improved knowledge of the links between air pollutants and heart diseases and cancers, in addition to known links with respiratory diseases.

The Guardian

We have had limited success in actively engaging local media and an significant part of the scientific community is still reluctant to participate in this debate - though this might be due in part to cultural traits.

The Guardian

That is especially important, they said, because benefit managers will have an significant role in the new Medicare drug benefit that will be offered to millions of elderly and disabled people in 2006.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound, like "significant". Remember the basic grammar rule to avoid this common mistake.

Common error

Don't use "an" before words that start with a consonant sound. While "an" is for vowel sounds, "a" is for consonant sounds. Always double-check the correct article.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an significant" functions as an adjective modifying an implied noun. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the article usage is incorrect. The intended function is to emphasize the importance or size of something, but the incorrect grammar detracts from effective communication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

58%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "an significant" appears frequently across various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct article to use is "a" before words starting with a consonant sound. The phrase's intended purpose is to highlight importance or impact, but this is undermined by the incorrect grammar. When writing, remember to use "a significant" instead to ensure grammatical accuracy. Although examples are abundant, prioritizing grammatical correctness is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant

Corrects the article from 'an' to 'a' to match the consonant sound of 'significant'.

a considerable

Replaces 'significant' with 'considerable', implying a noticeable degree or amount.

a notable

Substitutes 'significant' with 'notable', suggesting something worthy of attention.

a marked

Uses 'marked' instead of 'significant', indicating a clearly noticeable effect or change.

a substantial

Employs 'substantial' in place of 'significant', highlighting a large or important amount.

an important

Uses 'important' instead of 'significant', indicating a high value or crucial role.

a meaningful

Replaces 'significant' with 'meaningful', suggesting a deep or important purpose.

a major

Substitutes 'significant' with 'major', highlighting the size or importance.

a key

Uses 'key' instead of 'significant', indicating a crucial or essential element.

a critical

Replaces 'significant' with 'critical', underscoring the importance or urgency.

FAQs

How do I correct the phrase "an significant"?

The correct phrase is "a significant". Use "a" before words starting with a consonant sound.

When should I use "a" instead of "an"?

Use "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound (e.g., a cat, a house) and "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound (e.g., an apple, an hour).

What are some alternatives to the word "significant"?

Alternatives include "important", "notable", "considerable", or "substantial", depending on the context.

Is "an significant" ever grammatically correct?

No, "an significant" is never grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is "a significant".