an warning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an warning" is not correct in written English.
It should be "a warning" because "warning" begins with a consonant sound. Example: "I received a warning about the upcoming storm."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He gives his reaction to the right wing political party in Maharastra - Shiv Sena, who has issued an warning to Bollywood not to hire any Pakistani artists.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A warning or an encouragement?

Huffington Post

But a warning is a warning.

The New York Times - Sports

It was a warning about a movie.

The New Yorker

It was a homily with a warning.

The Economist

It's a blessing and a warning.

The New Yorker

A warning was a warning.

Vice

A first offense brings a warning.

The New York Times

A stocking stuffer with a warning label?

The New York Times - Food

A warning label on a baseball bat?

Forbes

A warning?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "a" before the word "warning" because it begins with a consonant sound. For example: "This situation requires a warning."

Common error

Avoid using "an" before "warning". The correct article to use is "a" because "warning" begins with a consonant sound, not a vowel sound. Incorrect: "an warning"; Correct: "a warning".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an warning" functions as a noun phrase, intended to signal caution or foreknowledge. However, its non-standard grammatical structure, as highlighted by Ludwig AI, detracts from its effectiveness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "an warning" aims to convey a sense of caution or alert, it is grammatically incorrect, as pointed out by Ludwig AI. The correct form is "a warning". Although examples exist in news media, adherence to proper grammar is essential for clear communication. Therefore, when writing or speaking, it is important to use "a warning" or similar, grammatically sound alternatives like "a cautionary notice" or "an alert" for effective and credible conveyance of caution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a warning

Corrects the grammatical error by using the article "a" instead of "an" before the consonant sound.

a forewarning

Uses a synonym to represent a warning in advance.

a cautionary notice

Replaces "warning" with a more formal term, adding the adjective "cautionary" and noun "notice".

a word of caution

Offers a gentle warning.

an alert

Substitutes "warning" with a synonym that fits grammatically with "an".

a signal of danger

Expands the concept of a warning to explicitly indicate danger.

an indication of risk

Replaces "warning" with a phrase expressing a potential hazard.

a premonition

Implies a feeling that something bad is going to happen, acting as a warning.

an omen

Replaces warning with a signal about an important event.

a red flag

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate a warning.

FAQs

Why is it grammatically incorrect to say "an warning"?

The phrase "an warning" is incorrect because the word "warning" begins with a consonant sound, not a vowel sound. The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. The correct phrasing is "a warning".

What is the correct article to use before the word "warning"?

The correct article to use before "warning" is "a", not "an". Therefore, the proper phrase is "a warning".

What can I say instead of "an warning"?

Since "an warning" is grammatically incorrect, you should use "a warning" instead. Alternatively, you can use synonyms like "a cautionary notice" or "an alert".

Is there a situation where it is grammatically correct to use the article "an" before a word related to "warning"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to use "an" before a synonym of warning that begins with a vowel sound, such as "an alert" or "an omen".