How to use "a unquestionable"

What Does "a unquestionable" Mean?

• The collocation "a unquestionable" is used to emphasize the certainty or undeniable nature of something. It signifies that the noun following it is beyond doubt or dispute.
• The meaning is compositional. "Unquestionable" retains its standard meaning of being beyond doubt, and when combined with the indefinite article "a" and a noun, it indicates that the noun possesses this quality of being indisputable.
• The register is generally neutral to formal, suitable for academic writing, journalism, and professional contexts.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: article + adjective + noun (a/an + unquestionable + noun)
• Typical objects: "a unquestionable fact," "an unquestionable need," "an unquestionable right," "an unquestionable improvement."
• The components cannot be separated. The phrase functions as a single unit modifying the noun.
• What sounds unnatural: Using a different article (e.g., "the unquestionable need" implies a specific need already known), using an adverb instead of an adjective (e.g., "a unquestionably fact"), omitting the noun (e.g., "a unquestionable").

Real-World Examples

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

"But there was something about Miles, an ease, a genuineness, an unquestionable self-assurance, that let me know he was worth looking past his risky job." — Huffington Post

"The comparatively total disappearance of the whale, in the Atlantic, is an unquestionable fact," a visitor to America noted in 1809." — The New Yorker

"There is an unquestionable need for a talent infusion, preferably young talent." — The New York Times - Sports

"He said a justice should have: "an independent mind, unimpeachable credentials, and an unquestionable mastery of law"." — The Guardian

"The freeing of the slaves was an unquestionable improvement, but the sharecropper south made for a dismal brand of liberty." — Huffington Post

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

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
an indisputable	Similar in meaning and formality.
an undeniable	Similar in meaning, slightly less formal.
a certain	Implies confidence in the truth, but less forceful.
a definite	Similar to "certain," indicating clear and unambiguous.
a clear	Highlights the obviousness of something.
an absolute	Emphasizes the completeness and lack of exceptions.
a sure	More informal, suggesting confidence and reliability.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect article: Using "the" instead of "a/an" when referring to a general instance, not a specific one already known.
• Adjective without a noun: Saying "a unquestionable" without specifying what is unquestionable (e.g., "It's a unquestionable" is grammatically incorrect; it needs a noun like "It's a unquestionable fact"). Learners often use adjectives directly after the article 'a' or 'an' without including a noun.
• Using an adverb instead of an adjective: "a unquestionably fact" is incorrect; the adjective "unquestionable" is required.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
a/an unquestionable + noun	Something that is undeniably true or certain.	article + adjective + noun	Neutral to Formal

FAQs

Can the parts of "a unquestionable" be separated, or must they stay together?

The components of "a unquestionable" cannot be separated. It functions as a single unit, with the article and adjective directly modifying the noun that follows. Any attempt to separate them will result in an ungrammatical sentence.

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How does "a unquestionable" differ from simply saying "certain"?

While "certain" also implies confidence, "a unquestionable" emphasizes that something is so clear and evident that it cannot be doubted or challenged. It carries a stronger sense of conviction than simply stating something is "certain."

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What's wrong with saying "a unquestionable" without a noun after it?

Using "a unquestionable" without a noun is grammatically incorrect because the adjective needs to modify a noun. The phrase needs to describe what is unquestionable; for example, "a unquestionable fact," "an unquestionable right," or "an unquestionable need."