an unique

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "an unique" is not correct in written English.
The correct phrase would be "a unique" instead. For example: "The house had a unique design that stood out from its neighbors."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Cultural Cuba Havana, Cuba's capital city, is simply bursting with character and charm, possessing an unique allure that fascinates and delights visitors from around the world.

Independent

Dumont has an unique ability to create enigmatic, contemporary parables that get under your skin.

The Guardian - Film

"I have kind of an unique experience knowing how America spends its money and knowing how broke everyone is".

The Guardian - Business

"Unlike the BBC, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) has an unique structure that the government can easily put political pressure on.

The Guardian

And, he said, it will provide an "unique natural environment that tenants in the Princeton market will appreciate".

The New York Times

"We have too many languages and cultures, indeed, the idea of an unique [European] newspaper is for now just a utopia.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

A monoprint is a unique print.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A I've had a unique opportunity.

The New York Times

A unique blend".

The New York Times - Arts

"A unique combination".

The New York Times

A unique achievement".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "a unique" instead of "an unique". The word "unique" begins with a consonant sound, thus requiring the indefinite article "a".

Common error

Avoid using "an" before "unique". While "unique" starts with a vowel, it begins with a consonant sound (/juː/), making "a unique" the correct form. This is a common error, but it's important to remember the sound, not just the letter.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an unique" functions as a determiner and adjective aiming to describe a noun. However, it's important to note that it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights this grammatical error, suggesting the correct form is "a unique."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

21%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "an unique" appears with notable frequency, particularly in news and business contexts, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "a unique", as the word "unique" begins with a consonant sound. Ludwig AI clearly points out this grammatical inaccuracy. Despite its common usage, especially in sources like The Guardian and Vice, adherence to proper grammar dictates the use of "a unique". To avoid this error, remember to consider the sound, not just the letter, when choosing between "a" and "an". When aiming to express distinctiveness, consider alternatives such as "a distinctive", "a singular", or "a one of a kind" to maintain both clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a one-of-a-kind

Replaces "unique" with a phrase expressing unparalleled originality.

a distinctive

Replaces "unique" with a synonym emphasizing characteristic distinction.

a singular

Substitutes "unique" with a word highlighting individuality and rarity.

a distinctive

Replaces "unique" with a synonym emphasizing characteristic distinction.

an exceptional

Replaces "unique" with a term suggesting outstanding quality or rarity.

an unparalleled

Substitutes "unique" with a word implying unmatched status.

a rare

Replaces "unique" with a simpler term indicating infrequency or specialness.

an uncommon

Substitutes "unique" with a word suggesting something not frequently encountered.

a special

Replaces "unique" with a broad term indicating importance or distinctiveness.

a particular

Substitutes "unique" with a word suggesting specificity and distinction.

FAQs

Why is it incorrect to say "an unique"?

The correct article to use before "unique" is "a", not "an", because "unique" begins with a consonant sound (/juː/). Even though the word starts with the vowel "u", the sound determines the article.

What are some alternatives to saying "a unique"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a distinctive", "a singular", or "a one of a kind" instead.

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

"A unique" is the grammatically correct choice. "An unique" is a common mistake because people sometimes assume that all words starting with a vowel require "an", but it's the sound that matters.

How can I remember to use "a" instead of "an" before "unique"?

Think of other words that start with the same sound as "unique", like "university" or "Europe". You would always say "a university" or "a European country", so use the same logic for "a unique".