what a honor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'what a honor' is not correct in written English.
The correct phrase in written English is 'what an honor'. You can use this phrase when you want to express your appreciation or admiration for someone or something. For example: "What an honor it was to meet the President of the United States!".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"What a honor, what a soul.

Independent

pic.twitter.com/N1nkD9h82W Other tributes from the music industry soon followed: What a honor, what a soul.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

What an honor.

The New York Times

What an honor, to have a husband.

The New York Times

"What an honor," he said.

The New Yorker

"What an honor to meet you," she said.

The New Yorker

What an honor and privilege it was to work with you and call you a friend.

The New York Times

When I said that I was Libyan, he smiled and replied, "What an honor.

The New Yorker

#malaladenver pic.twitter.com/D4gwqN5xY6 #MalalaDenver pic.twitter.com/t0HmYGZhNd What an honor to hear @MalalaFund speak in Denver.

Independent

Soon we were taking turns declaring what an honor this dinner was.

The New York Times - Travel

What an honor it would be to play for him IN Scotland!

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "privilege" or "pleasure" to express a similar sentiment with different wording.

Common error

The most common error is using the indefinite article "a" before a word that begins with a vowel sound. Remember that "honor" begins with a vowel sound, so the correct article is "an".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what a honor" is intended to express admiration, gratitude, or acknowledgment of a privilege. However, it is grammatically incorrect. It should be "what an honor". As Ludwig AI points out, the correct article to use before the word "honor" is "an".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "what a honor" is used to express admiration or gratitude, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "what an honor", using "an" before the vowel sound of "honor". Ludwig AI identifies this grammatical error, emphasizing the importance of using the correct article. While examples exist primarily in the news and media context, remember to use the grammatically correct version in all formal and informal settings. Consider using synonyms like "a great privilege" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what an honor

Corrects the grammatical error by using 'an' before the vowel sound.

a great privilege

Replaces 'honor' with 'privilege', focusing on the special opportunity.

a distinct honor

Adds emphasis by using the adjective 'distinct' to describe the honor.

a true honor

Adds emphasis by using the adjective 'true' to describe the honor.

a genuine honor

Replaces 'true' with 'genuine'.

a special honor

Uses 'special' to highlight the unique nature of the honor.

a singular honor

Emphasizes the uniqueness of the honor.

an esteemed honor

Uses 'esteemed' to emphasize the high regard associated with the honor.

a valued privilege

Replaces 'honor' with 'privilege', focusing on the special opportunity, and uses 'valued' to indicate the worth.

it's my honor

Changes the structure to express that someone is doing the honoring.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "what a honor"?

The correct phrase is "what an honor". The article 'an' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

When should I use "what an honor"?

Use "what an honor" when you want to express gratitude or acknowledge a privilege, recognition or special opportunity.

What can I say instead of "what an honor"?

Alternatives include "a great privilege", "a true honor", or simply expressing your gratitude directly.

Is "what a honor" ever correct?

No, "what a honor" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct form is always "what an honor".