such a outcome

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "such a outcome" is not correct in English; it should be "such an outcome." You can use it when referring to a specific result or consequence that has been previously mentioned or is understood in context.
Example: "The project faced many challenges, but such an outcome was expected given the circumstances."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The league encountered just such a outcome in last season's National Football Conference championship game, which the Saints won in sudden death on a field goal on the opening overtime drive, leaving Brett Favre and the Vikings' offense on the sideline with no role to play.

The New York Times - Sports

John Bickle (1992, 1998, chapter 6) argues on empirical grounds that such a outcome is likely.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But nobody should welcome such an outcome.

The Economist

Such an outcome may prove unlikely.

The New York Times - Sports

Such an outcome remains highly unlikely.

The Economist

However, such an outcome is unlikely.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But how likely is such an outcome?

The New Yorker

Such an outcome in Syria is doubtful.

The New York Times

Fortunately, such an outcome remains quite unlikely.

The New York Times

Such an outcome is deemed unacceptable.

The New York Times

Such an outcome is certainly possible.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "an" instead of "a" before "outcome" when using the phrase "such". The correct phrase is "such an outcome."

Common error

Avoid using "a" before "outcome" after "such". The correct form is "such an outcome" because "outcome" starts with a vowel sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "such a outcome" is intended to function as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun by specifying a particular kind of result. However, according to Ludwig, the phrase should be "such an outcome" due to grammatical rules regarding article usage before vowel sounds.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "such a outcome" aims to describe a specific kind of result, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "such an outcome", as the article "an" should precede words starting with a vowel sound. According to Ludwig, this correction is important for ensuring grammatical accuracy. Though the phrase appears in contexts such as news and scientific articles, the incorrect grammar reduces its effectiveness. Therefore, always remember to use "such an outcome" in your writing to maintain clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

such a result

Replaces "outcome" with "result", providing a direct synonym.

such a consequence

Substitutes "outcome" with "consequence", emphasizing the effect of an action.

that kind of outcome

Uses "that kind of" to generalize the type of result being discussed.

this type of outcome

Emphasizes the specific category or type of result.

a similar outcome

Highlights the similarity to a previously mentioned result.

an equivalent outcome

Focuses on the equivalence of the result to another.

a comparable outcome

Suggests the result is comparable to others in a certain context.

the aforementioned outcome

Refers specifically to an outcome previously discussed.

the expected outcome

Highlights that the outcome was anticipated.

a predictable outcome

Emphasizes that the outcome was foreseeable.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "such a outcome"?

The grammatically correct way to phrase this is "such "such an outcome"". The article "an" is used because "outcome" begins with a vowel sound.

Is "such a outcome" grammatically correct?

No, "such a outcome" is grammatically incorrect. The proper phrasing is ""such an outcome"".

What can I say instead of "such a outcome"?

You should use ""such an outcome"". Alternatively, you could use "such a result" or "such a consequence".

Why is it "such an outcome" and not "such a outcome"?

The indefinite article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. Since "outcome" starts with a vowel sound, the correct form is ""such an outcome"".