an useable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an useable" is not correct in written English; it should be "a usable." You can use "a usable" when describing something that is functional or practical for use.
Example: "The software update has made the application more user-friendly and a usable tool for our team."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The sensors are coin-shaped piezoelectric elements with linear ±3 dB frequency responses from 75 to 2000 Hz, a resonance at 2.7 kHz and an useable range that extends beyond 4 kHz [ 9].

BMC Pediatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

With no lifeguards on duty and a useable lifeboat more than an hour away, a bodybuilder from LA becomes an unforeseen hero.

BBC

The maker movement enables anyone with an idea to grow it into a useable product, so it is a great way for women and girls to get involved.

Huffington Post

The absolute minimum requirement for any design flow is to be able to capture a useable representation of an idea.

CMOS IC Layout Concepts, Methodologies, and Tools

But the Farm Bill also states that "de minimis handling and preparation might be necessary to present an agricultural product to a school food authority in a useable form".

Huffington Post

The sensors are coin-shaped piezoelectric elements with linear ±3dB frequency response from 75 to 2000 Hz, a resonance at 2.7 kHz, a useable range that extends beyond 4 kHz, and a built-in passive ambient noise rejection capability.

BMC Pediatrics

The results indicated that the 'Solasyphon' delivered solar heated water directly to the top of the HWC producing a stratified supply at a useable temperature.

Applied Energy

A concise playbook is a useable playbook.

Forbes

Mr Roughley said: "Just a few mouse clicks and the phone is turned from a paperweight back to a useable device again.

BBC

Two respondents were excluded as they could not be allocated to a professional group, giving a useable sample of 116.

BMC Family Practice

At design phase 21 nt was the size that fits well given a big enough for a useable and viewable game.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the grammatically correct form "a usable" instead of "an useable". The article "a" should precede words that begin with a consonant sound.

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words starting with a consonant sound, even if the first letter is a vowel that's pronounced as a consonant (e.g., "a university", not "an university"). Always double-check the pronunciation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an useable" functions as a descriptive adjective intending to modify a noun, indicating that the noun is in a condition to be used. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig indicates the correct form is "a usable".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "an useable" is intended to describe something as being suitable for use, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "a usable". Though examples exist across diverse sources like Science and News & Media, its infrequent appearance suggests avoiding it in favor of grammatically sound alternatives such as "a functional", "a practical", or "a workable", especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a usable

Corrects the grammatical error by using the correct article "a" before the consonant sound of "usable".

a functional

Replaces "useable" with a synonym that emphasizes the ability to perform a function.

a practical

Suggests something is effective and suitable for real-world situations.

a workable

Implies something is capable of achieving a desired result or outcome.

an applicable

Emphasizes relevance or suitability to a particular situation.

an operational

Indicates something is in working order and ready to be used.

a ready-to-use

Highlights the convenience of something being immediately available for use.

an available

Focuses on the accessibility and readiness of something.

a convenient

Stresses the ease and simplicity of using something.

a serviceable

Indicates something is adequate and capable of fulfilling its purpose.

FAQs

What is the correct way to write "a usable" or "an useable"?

The correct way to write it is "a usable". The article "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound.

What does "usable" mean?

"Usable" means something is in a condition to be used; practical or functional. For example, "The software update made the application "a usable tool"".

Can I say "an useful" instead of "a usable"?

No, "an useful" is grammatically incorrect. While "useful" starts with a vowel letter, it starts with a consonant sound. You should use "a useful" instead.

What are some alternatives to "a usable"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "a functional", "a practical", or "a workable".