had a interview

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had a interview" is not correct in English.
It should be "had an interview." You can use the corrected phrase when referring to a past experience of participating in a job or formal meeting where you were questioned. Example: "Last week, I had an interview for the position I applied for at the marketing firm."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I had a interview with a very great company with lots of career growth.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I had an interview a month ago.

The Guardian

The BBC has had an interview too.

The Guardian

They never even had an interview.

The New York Times

I've never had an interview like that," Mr. Ryan said.

The New York Times

Within a few days, he had an interview scheduled.

The New Yorker

As a sixth-former, I had an interview at Cambridge.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"No, I just had an interview with CNN," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

I also had an interview in central Los Angeles on July 11.

The New York Times - Travel

She has not had an interview in a long time despite frequently applying for jobs online.

The New York Times

He had an interview with a security-guard firm, and he wanted to look the part.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct article ("a" or "an") before "interview" based on the pronunciation. Since "interview" begins with a vowel sound, use "an" instead of "a".

Common error

Avoid using "a" before "interview". The correct phrase is "had an interview". Using "a" is a common grammatical mistake that can detract from your writing's credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a interview" functions as a verb phrase intended to describe a past experience of participating in a formal meeting. However, it's grammatically incorrect due to the improper use of the indefinite article. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "had an interview".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had a interview" is an incorrect construction in English. The correct form is "had an interview". This is due to the grammatical rule that requires the indefinite article "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound. Ludwig AI identifies this error. While the intended meaning is clear—to express the act of participating in an interview—the incorrect grammar detracts from the overall quality of the communication. It's a relatively rare phrase but understanding the error is essential for clear and effective communication. Use alternatives such as attended an interview or went to an interview.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had an interview

Corrects the grammatical error by using the indefinite article "an" before the noun "interview".

attended an interview

Replaces "had" with "attended" to provide a more formal and grammatically sound alternative.

participated in an interview

Uses "participated" to emphasize active involvement in the interview process.

went to an interview

Offers a simpler and more informal alternative using the verb "went".

was interviewed

Shifts the focus to the subject being interviewed, using a passive voice.

completed an interview

Indicates the completion of the interview process.

sat for an interview

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "had an interview".

underwent an interview

Emphasizes the experience of going through the interview process.

experienced an interview

Highlights the subjective experience of participating in an interview.

faced an interview

Implies a challenging or confronting aspect of the interview.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "had a interview"?

The correct phrasing is "had an interview". The indefinite article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, such as "interview".

What are some alternatives to saying "had a interview"?

Instead of "had a interview", you can say "attended an interview", "went to an interview", or "participated in an interview" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had a interview" or "had an interview"?

"Had an interview" is the grammatically correct phrase. "Had a interview" is incorrect because "interview" starts with a vowel sound, requiring the article "an".

Is "had a interview" ever acceptable?

No, "had a interview" is generally not considered acceptable in standard English. The correct form is always "had an interview".