an sufficient number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an sufficient number" is not correct in written English.
The correct article to use is "a" instead of "an" because "sufficient" begins with a consonant sound. Example: "We need a sufficient number of volunteers to complete the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Finally, until a marketplace has a sufficient number of shippers and carriers and other pertinent intermediaries, it is not useful.

Forbes

This is not a sufficient number for a reliable comparison.

BMC Cancer

In a general way, there were a sufficient number of personal links between Beckett and Ernst.

The Guardian

More precisely, a concrete particular consists of a sufficient number of mutually compresent tropes.

SEP

"The combination of a diverse, educated electorate with a sufficient number of moderate Republicans is what makes the 45th 'swing.'".

Huffington Post

This pilot study design guaranteed a high practical orientation and a sufficient number of participants.

BMC Medical Education

A robust pipeline of educators, e.g., a sufficient number of new PhDs graduating each year.

Forbes

Online polling improves a survey's ability to reach a sufficient number of younger people, often underrepresented in phone polls.

Los Angeles Times

Multiple apheresis sessions may be needed to collect a sufficient number of stem cells from a donor.

Britannica

I'll post a follow-up article if I receive a sufficient number of inquiries.

Forbes

Intuitively, having a sufficient number of vehicles will provide a partition (vehicle-subset assignment).

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct article "a" instead of "an" before "sufficient" because "sufficient" begins with a consonant sound. Remember that article usage depends on the sound of the word following it, not just the letter.

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words starting with a consonant sound, even if the first letter is a vowel written in silent. For example, it's "a university", not "an university". Using "an" where "a" is needed is a common mistake that affects clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an sufficient number" is grammatically incorrect and does not function properly in a sentence. The correct article is 'a' before 'sufficient' because 'sufficient' begins with a consonant sound. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an sufficient number" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI clearly states, the correct article to use is "a" because "sufficient" starts with a consonant sound. Therefore, the proper phrase is "a sufficient number". The intent behind using this phrase, to denote an adequate quantity, is lost due to this grammatical error. Remember that article usage is based on the sound of the word that follows, not simply the first letter. Ensuring correct article usage enhances clarity and professionalism in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sufficient quantity

Replaces "number" with "quantity", which might be more appropriate for uncountable items and corrects the article usage.

a suitable number

Replaces "sufficient" with "suitable", indicating appropriateness for a specific purpose and corrects the article usage.

a large enough number

Adds "large enough" to emphasize the size and sufficiency of the number and corrects the article usage.

a satisfactory number

Replaces "sufficient" with "satisfactory", meaning the number meets expectations and corrects the article usage.

a proper number

Replaces "sufficient" with "proper", emphasizing correctness or appropriateness and corrects the article usage.

an adequate amount

Substitutes "sufficient number" with "adequate amount", focusing on the amount rather than the count and corrects the article usage.

a required number

Replaces "sufficient" with "required", indicating a necessary quantity and corrects the article usage.

the necessary number

Specifies that the number is not just adequate, but essential and corrects the article usage.

enough numbers

Simplifies the phrase to just "enough numbers", which can be suitable in some contexts and corrects the article usage.

a good number

Uses a more general term "good" to indicate a satisfactory quantity and corrects the article usage.

FAQs

How do I use the phrase "a sufficient number of" correctly?

Use "a sufficient number of" when you want to indicate that there is enough of something to meet a particular need or purpose. For example: "We need a sufficient number of volunteers to complete the project."

What's the difference between "sufficient number" and "adequate number"?

Both "sufficient number" and "adequate number" mean there is enough of something. "Sufficient" implies just enough to meet a requirement, while "adequate" suggests it's satisfactory but not necessarily the best.

What are some alternatives to "a sufficient number of"?

You can use alternatives like "an adequate amount", "enough numbers", or "a suitable number" depending on the context and what you want to emphasize.

Which is correct: "a sufficient number" or "an sufficient number"?

"A sufficient number" is correct. The word "sufficient" begins with a consonant sound, so it should be preceded by the article "a", not "an".