an useless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an useless" is not correct or usable in written English.
"Useless" is an adjective, and it needs to be followed by a noun. "A/an" is an article used before a noun to indicate that it is singular. Using both together does not make grammatical sense. Instead, you can use the adjective "useless" before a noun without the article, or you can use the article "a/an" before a different adjective. For example: - "That is a useless idea." (adjective + noun) - "That is an idea of little use." (article + adjective + noun) An example sentence using "useless" correctly could be: - "The broken pencil was useless for writing."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I mean, they even took the time to look at an useless exchange between friends.

The New York Times

The case is so clear, that to prove it would be an useless waste of time.

University of Chicago

The more elaborated and sophisticated they are, the better they can approximate truth, the more they can predict the past, thereby becoming an useless instrument to expose the future in a scientific way.

European Journal of Futures Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Use either a Business Card or a Useless Credit Card as a Stencil.

WikiHow

Otherwise he will remain a victim of a useless system.

The Economist

Dear old Footy: a delightful litterateur, a useless politician.

Independent

Lakmal is a dying breed - a useless No.11.

The Guardian - Sport

But that's cold comfort to a driver facing a useless pile of metal and plastic.

Stanford University

P166 Prophylactic confinement after liver transplant: a necessity or a useless precaution?

Annals of Intensive Care

A virgin is a useless man, isn't it?

Vice

A useless website suggests a useless company, and a rival is only a mouse-click away.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure that adjectives like "useless" are correctly preceded by the article "a" when the following word starts with a consonant sound. Double-check the pronunciation, not just the spelling.

Common error

The most common mistake is using "an" before words that start with a consonant sound, such as "useless". Remember that "an" is used before vowel sounds, not just vowels. Avoid errors by pronouncing the word and listening to the initial sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an useless" is an example of incorrect article usage. The function is to modify a noun, but it fails grammatically. Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as grammatically incorrect, highlighting the importance of using the correct article before adjectives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an useless" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "a useless". While Ludwig AI identifies limited instances of the phrase in diverse sources such as News & Media and Academia, its incorrect usage undermines its effectiveness. Remember to use "a" before words starting with a consonant sound and "an" before words starting with a vowel sound. Using the correct article ensures clarity and credibility in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a useless

Removes the incorrect 'an' article, replacing it with 'a' to align with standard English grammar for words starting with a consonant sound.

a futile

Substitutes 'useless' with 'futile', offering a semantically similar adjective to describe something ineffective or pointless.

an ineffective

Replaces 'useless' with 'ineffective', providing a near synonym that maintains a similar meaning of not producing the desired effect.

a pointless

Changes "useless" to "pointless", indicating that something lacks purpose or meaning. The article "a" is used appropriately.

a fruitless

Replaces "useless" with "fruitless", meaning unproductive or without results, maintaining a similar connotation of ineffectiveness.

a vain

Offers "vain" as an alternative, suggesting something that produces no result or is without worth. It correctly pairs with the article 'a'.

a worthless

Substitutes 'useless' with 'worthless', meaning lacking value or merit, providing a comparable sense of inutility.

a nonfunctional

Replaces 'useless' with 'nonfunctional', which means not performing or operating, offering a technical alternative.

an unproductive

Replaces 'useless' with 'unproductive', referring to a lack of efficiency or output, and correctly uses the article 'an'.

a dead-end

Uses the term "dead-end" implying a lack of future progress or possibility. The article "a" is correctly used.

FAQs

When should I use 'a' versus 'an'?

Use "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound (e.g., a car, a university) and "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound (e.g., an apple, an hour). It's about the sound, not just the letter. So it's "a university" because 'university' starts with a 'y' sound.

Is it ever correct to say "an useless"?

No, it is not correct. The correct phrasing is "a useless" because the word "useless" begins with a consonant sound, even though "u" is a vowel.

What's the difference between "useless" and "futile"?

While both "useless" and "futile" describe something ineffective, "useless" generally means not capable of fulfilling a purpose, whereas "futile" suggests that an effort will not produce any useful result.

What are some synonyms for "useless"?

Some synonyms for "useless" include "worthless", "futile", "pointless", and "ineffective". The best choice depends on the specific context.