an wide margin

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an wide margin" is not correct in written English.
The correct form should be "a wide margin" since "wide" begins with a consonant sound. Example: "The report was printed with a wide margin to allow for comments and notes."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The candidate, Paruir A. Airikyan, 63, is one of eight opponents challenging President Serzh Sargsyan, who is widely expected to win re-election by an wide margin.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Last November, Mr. Rowland, a Republican, was re-elected to a third term by a wide margin.

The New York Times

He lost by a wide margin to an alliance of opposition parties.

The New York Times

Rep. John Sarbanes '84, D-Md., won by a wide margin, earning a second term.

Princeton University

Recent polling showed Mr. Hoeven leading Mr. Dorgan by a wide margin in a hypothetical contest.

The New York Times

They also voted, by a wide margin, to create a state lottery.

The New York Times

That guy was a smaller fish than Beck by a wide margin.

The New Yorker

Morales was re-elected to a third term last month by a wide margin.

The Guardian - Arts

By a wide margin, they said no.

The New York Times

Five minutes is also a wide margin.

The Guardian - Money

Ortega was reelected by a wide margin.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct article before "wide". The correct phrase is "a wide margin".

Common error

Ensure you use the correct article ("a" or "an") based on the sound of the following word. "Wide" starts with a consonant sound, so use "a" instead of "an".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an wide margin" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to describe the extent of a difference or lead. However, it's grammatically incorrect. As noted by Ludwig AI, the correct form is "a wide margin."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Academia

17%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an wide margin" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "a wide margin". As Ludwig AI highlights, the error lies in the incorrect use of the article "an" before the word "wide", which begins with a consonant sound. Although examples exist in various sources, it's important to use the grammatically correct form to maintain clarity and credibility. While "a wide margin" is relatively common, alternatives like "a substantial difference" or "a significant gap" can be used to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial difference

Replaces "margin" with "difference" and uses the adjective "substantial" instead of "wide" to emphasize the size of the difference.

a significant gap

Uses "gap" instead of "margin" and "significant" instead of "wide" to denote a notable disparity.

a considerable lead

Emphasizes the advantage one party has over another, often in a competitive context, using "lead" instead of "margin".

a comfortable advantage

Indicates a situation where the lead is large enough to ensure security, using "advantage" instead of "margin".

a decisive victory

Highlights a win that is clear and unambiguous, moving away from the more general term "margin".

a clear distinction

Focuses on the clarity of the difference rather than its magnitude, using "distinction" instead of "margin".

a marked contrast

Emphasizes the degree to which two things are noticeably different, switching to "contrast" instead of "margin".

a sweeping triumph

Indicates an overwhelming success, highlighting the extent of the victory more than the specific margin.

an extensive spread

Emphasizes the breadth or scope of the difference, using "spread" as a substitute for "margin".

a vast disparity

Highlights the inequality or imbalance between two things, replacing "margin" with "disparity" to underscore the difference.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "an wide margin"?

The correct phrasing is "a wide margin". The article "a" should be used before words starting with a consonant sound.

Can I use "an ample margin" instead of "an wide margin"?

While "an ample margin" is grammatically correct, it has a slightly different connotation. If you're aiming for grammatical correctness and semantic equivalence, "a wide margin" is preferable, focusing on the breadth of the margin.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "a wide margin"?

You'll commonly see "a wide margin" used in discussions of election results, sports scores, financial performance, or any scenario where a clear difference or lead is evident.

What are some alternatives to "a wide margin" that still convey a large difference?

Consider using phrases like "a substantial difference", "a significant gap", or "a considerable lead" to emphasize the magnitude of the difference.