How to use "a unnatural"

What Does "a unnatural" Mean?

• The phrase "a unnatural" is grammatically incorrect. "Unnatural" begins with a vowel sound, and words beginning with a vowel sound are preceded by the article "an," not "a."
• The meaning is compositional; however, its incorrect grammar renders it non-idiomatic.
• Register: neutral

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: article + adjective + noun. In this case, it should be an + adjective + noun.
• Typical objects: "an unnatural act," "an unnatural feeling," "an unnatural environment."
• The components cannot be separated.
• What sounds unnatural: using the article "a" before a word that begins with a vowel sound. For example, "a apple" sounds unnatural.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from a unnatural on Ludwig.guru.

"But when they are put in a unnatural position, when there clearly is a sexual connotation, that's going too far, in my opinion." — The New York Times - Sports

"To progress you'll need to gain energy by running over glowing blue platforms – judging whether or not to make the leap leaves you trying to plot optimal routes in a unnatural space with frightening speed." — The Guardian

"Seraphim responded to the plans to make Greece join the rest of Europe in the 21st century by stating that "homosexuality is a unnatural aberration not even observed in animals"." — Vice

"That you are an unnatural woman, a child-hater?" — The Guardian

"It is a natural response to an unnatural environment"." — Independent

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/a+unnatural

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
an unnatural act	Corrected version of the original phrase.
an artificial environment	Similar meaning, focusing on the man-made aspect.
an abnormal situation	Focuses on deviation from the norm.
a strange occurrence	Emphasizes unusualness and oddity.
an odd phenomenon	Suitable when referring to an observable event.
an unconventional method	When describing procedures or approaches.
an unorthodox approach	Similar to unconventional, slightly more formal.

Common Mistakes

• Using "a" instead of "an" before words starting with a vowel sound.
• Using "the unnatural" when a specific instance is not implied.
• Confusing "unnatural" with words like "artificial" or "abnormal" when the intended meaning is different.
• The most common error is using the incorrect article ('a' instead of 'an' before words starting with a vowel sound or vowel-like sound).

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
a unnatural	Grammatically incorrect; should be an unnatural	article + adjective + noun (incorrect)	Neutral

FAQs

Can the components of "a unnatural" be separated?

No, the components cannot be separated. The phrase functions as a unit describing something that deviates from what is considered natural. However, the phrase itself is incorrect and should be replaced with "an unnatural".

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How is "an unnatural" different from other similar terms like "artificial"?

While both "unnatural" and "artificial" imply something not found in nature, they have slightly different connotations. "Unnatural" suggests a deviation from what is considered normal or expected, while "artificial" more directly implies something created or manufactured by humans. Therefore, the choice depends on the specific context and the intended emphasis.

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How can I avoid making the mistake of using "a" instead of "an" before words like "unnatural"?

The key is to remember that the choice between "a" and "an" depends on the sound of the following word, not just the letter. Since "unnatural" begins with a vowel sound, you must use "an." A helpful tip is to say the phrase aloud; you'll often hear that "an unnatural" flows more smoothly than "a unnatural."