such an thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "such an thing" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form is "such a thing." Example: "I have never seen such a thing before in my life."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Christie describes Sukartono's relationship with Rohayah as symbolic of attempts by intellectual to engage with the masses through a shared popular culture, but ultimately failing; Taum notes such an thing occurring in a scene where Tini plays a sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven on her violin in front of a group of regular citizens who prefer local music.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

If such a thing exists.

Independent

He should try for such a thing.

The New Yorker

Whoever could have imagined such a thing?

The New York Times - Sports

Is there really such a thing?

The New York Times

"How can you say such a thing?

The New Yorker

Why would he do such a thing?

The New York Times

"Such a thing would have been unthinkable.

The New York Times

How is such a thing calibrated?

The New York Times

Never would he do such a thing.

The New York Times - Sports

I never heard of such a thing".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the grammatically correct form, "such a thing". Ensure that the article "a" agrees with the noun it precedes. Remember "an" is used before vowel sounds, while "a" is used before consonant sounds. "Thing" begins with a consonant sound, thus "a" is the correct article.

Common error

Avoid using "an" before words that start with a consonant sound. The correct phrase is "such a thing," not "such an thing". Listen to the pronunciation of the word following "such" to determine whether "a" or "an" is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "such an thing" is intended to function as a determiner-noun phrase, typically used to express surprise, disbelief, or emphasis. However, due to the incorrect article usage, it fails to meet standard grammatical conventions. Ludwig AI identifies this as an incorrect usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "such an thing" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "such a thing". Ludwig AI identifies this error, emphasizing the importance of using the correct article before nouns. While the phrase aims to express surprise or emphasis, the grammatical error undermines its effectiveness. It's crucial to remember that "a" is used before consonant sounds, making "such a thing" the appropriate choice. Usage of the incorrect phrase should be avoided in both formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Such a thing

Corrects the grammatical error by using "a" instead of "an" before the noun "thing".

A thing like that

Replaces the phrase with a more conversational and less formal alternative.

Something like that

Uses "something" instead of "a thing" to express a similar idea.

A similar occurrence

Replaces the general term "thing" with a more specific term indicating an event or happening.

An equivalent situation

Replaces the term with something regarding the circumstances or events that make up the environment.

A comparable instance

Offers a more formal alternative, replacing "thing" with "instance".

A similar concept

Replaces "thing" with "concept" to refer to an idea or abstract notion.

A parallel scenario

Uses "scenario" to suggest a hypothetical sequence of events similar to the one being discussed.

An analogous situation

Suggests a comparison to a similar situation that helps explain or understand the current one.

A like event

Simple substitution maintaining overall meaning.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "such an thing"?

The correct phrase is "such a thing". The article "a" should be used before the noun "thing" because it starts with a consonant sound.

When should I use "such a thing" in a sentence?

Use "such a thing" when you want to express surprise, disbelief, or emphasis about something. For example, "I had never seen such a thing before."

Are there alternatives to saying "such a thing"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "something like that", "a thing like that", or "a similar occurrence" depending on the specific context.

Is "such an thing" ever correct?

No, "such an thing" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is always "such a thing".