little an

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little an" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It appears to be a combination of two words that do not logically fit together in standard usage. Example: "I have a little an idea about the project." (This is incorrect.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Little, an upstate Republican.

The New York Times

It's just too little an idea to account for human complexity.

The New York Times

First Ryan Price failed to hold Mellon's innocuous corner, leaving Glen Little an unmissable target.

The Guardian - Sport

But if he makes too little an effort, his chances for proclaiming a better-than-expected showing go down.

The New York Times

"We do this because we love the animals but also to have as little an impact as possible.

The New York Times

In the 1940's he joined Arthur D. Little, an industrial research company, where his specialty was low-temperature refrigeration.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Tredwell run out 0 19th over: England 133-9 (Bresnan 39); target 171 Something to perk us up a little - an actual six.

The Guardian - Sport

In 1978, he started his leveraged buyout fund, Forstmann Little & Company, with his brother Nicholas and Brian Little, an investment banker.

The New York Times

Mr. Forstmann quietly played a crucial role behind the success of Forstmann Little, which he founded with his often outspoken older brother, Theodore J. Forstmann, and William Brian Little, an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, in 1978.

The New York Times

Tony Little, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Liverpool, said that 56 people amounted to a reasonable sample size.

The Guardian

Privatizing water systems can sometimes make sense, though, Richard G. Little, an infrastructure-policy consultant, told me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "little an" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "a small amount of" or "a slight degree of".

Common error

The incorrect use of "an" after "little" often stems from a misunderstanding of when to use "a" versus "an". Remember, "an" precedes words that begin with a vowel sound, not necessarily a vowel. For example, it would be correct to say "little a problem" but incorrect to say "little an problem".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little an" functions incorrectly as a determiner phrase. While "little" itself is an adjective, the subsequent use of "an" violates standard English grammar rules. As Ludwig AI indicates, this combination is not grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "little an" is grammatically incorrect, despite appearing in various sources. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Although it's relatively common, especially in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, it should be avoided in formal writing. Opt for correct alternatives like "a small amount of", "a slight degree of", or other similar phrases to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. Understanding the rules for using "a" versus "an" is crucial to avoid such errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small amount of

Replaces "little" with "small" and uses "amount of" to clarify the quantity, creating a more standard phrasing.

slight degree of

Substitutes "little" with "slight" and uses "degree of" for a formal tone.

minor quantity of

Replaces "little" with "minor" and uses "quantity of" for precision.

small measure of

Replaces "little" with "small" and uses "measure of" to emphasize extent.

limited quantity of

Uses "limited" instead of "little" and specifies "quantity" to highlight scarcity.

tiny bit of

Emphasizes the smallness using "tiny bit" for informality.

modicum of

Replaces "little" with "modicum", indicating a small but acceptable amount.

scant amount of

Emphasizes the insufficiency of the amount using "scant".

hint of

Suggests a subtle or barely perceptible presence.

touch of

Indicates a very small addition or influence.

FAQs

What's the correct way to express a small quantity instead of "little an"?

Instead of "little an", use phrases like "small amount of", "slight degree of", or "minor quantity of" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Is "little an" grammatically correct in English?

No, "little an" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage depends on the following word's sound. Use "a" before consonant sounds and "an" before vowel sounds.

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

"A" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound (e.g., a car, a house), while "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound (e.g., an apple, an hour).

What are some formal alternatives to "little an"?

For formal contexts, consider using "limited quantity of", "small measure of", or "modicum of" instead of "little an".