a unknown vs an unknown

The correct phrase is "an unknown". The use of 'an' before 'unknown' is necessary because 'unknown' starts with a vowel sound. This is a common construction in English.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 1742 views

a unknown

This is incorrect. The article 'a' should not be used before 'unknown' because 'unknown' starts with a vowel sound.

The correct phrase is 'an unknown'. Use 'an' before words that start with a vowel sound, like 'unknown'.

Show examples from the web [+]

«To enter a unknown room is exciting.
In April 2011, he was picked up by police and held for 81 days in a unknown place.
And then, in a unknown town you can feel even harder... the weight of solitude.
Keep going until you get to a unknown 10 year old.
And the one who invented it, not once confronted her with different famous fictional characters. So before Alice Selezneva again a unknown world...
Las Ramblas are just a few meters away and will lead you to Plaza Catalunya, Paseo de Gracia or on the other side the monument Colombus, which is pointing to a unknown direction, but this is another story.
(They) landed on a unknown world and that world was in darkness.
So even if my choice is wrong, even if it leads to a unknown future, I will definitely not regret anything.
Despite her family's scepticism regarding her approaching a unknown centre discovered over the Internet and given the fact that the symptoms were increasing, Marisa had a consultation with Dr. Royo in June 2009, and she underwent the SFT surgery.
They feared the willing of Sorcerers of changing the present, of leading Human Beings into a unknown future they feared.
And you realize you've made the right choice when you realize that your song moving lips of one who is sitting beside you on the bus, when you recognize something you had written and which ended in a love letter written by a unknown.
Moving vehicle with a dozen unknowns.
It was just a big unknown, a frightening unknown.
Amie Huguenard remains a great unknown of this film.
Consequently, strikes and slowdowns are a thing unknown.
She will become one of those statistics, an unsolved case involving a relatively unknown young woman.
A completely unknown writer, but this script will knock your socks off.
Russia has probably allocated a further unknown quantity of thermo-nuclear missiles.
They have found a previously unknown pathway by which radiation can subvert living cells.
They are often a major unknown factor for social security.

Alternatives:

an unknown

an unknown

This is the correct phrase. 'An' is used before 'unknown' because it starts with a vowel sound.

Use 'an' before words that start with a vowel sound, like 'unknown'.

Show examples from the web [+]

It's echo 2 and an unknown.
He was taken out by an unknown shooter.
Speech distortion's not an unknown language
And you, Mr. Blair, are an unknown.
Apparently left there by an unknown crusader.
Holst bought a child from an unknown surrogate mother.
They escaped with an unknown accomplice.
The display manager sent an unknown error message.
There was an unknown error starting X.
The IPP request failed for an unknown reason.
Encountered an unknown element name while reading layout.
Possibly from an unknown species on Earth.
And one painting by an unknown Argentinean.
But first novel by an unknown writer...
Dusting the safe produced an unknown print.
Colonel Jacques Bouvar was killed by an unknown assassin.
He has used an unknown spell to enslave everyone.
I bought a house in an unknown place.
We're in search of an unknown crime scene.
I'll create an unknown admirer and see what happens.

What Our Customers Are Saying

Our customers love us! We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283,125 votes.
Also check out our 2,100+ reviews on TrustPilot (4.9).

"Amazing! I like that the editors are REAL people and not A.I., like some use. The editors actually see clients as real people and not just apart of their job, and it shows. 💖"
moggie April 2025
"TextRanch has been a great help to me, especially at work because I often email my boss."
Jhey April 2025
"Thank you!"
Sachi Nakama July 2024
"I have literally been through chat, PI, claude, bard and bing and I got conflicting answers! Thank you! Human intelligence reigns!"
Retha July 2024
"Faster than AI"
CYNTHIA December 2023
"This was very helpful and I personally think this site is the best."
Kaden October 2023
"It was extremely thorough and very helpful!"
imperialelisa October 2023
"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"
Zubair Alam October 2023
"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."
Selena October 2023
"Without textranch I would be stuck!"
宏祐 October 2023
"Accuracy and fast response. Personal comments from editor. Thank you."
Clh September 2023
"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"
Arturo September 2023
"The fact that you can get reliable fast feedback on your texts."
Vinicius Antonio August 2023
"you guys are better than grammarly i'm being honest here"
ordinary July 2023
"OMG! This is really good than any other text correction tools I've used so far. Highly recommend this."
Vehan July 2023
"Very fast and accurate. thank you."
mojtaba July 2023
"I love this app because it's help to writing skills all of students ♥️"
Tarisini July 2023
"This was exactly the mistake I was looking for, the wording dind´t sound right at first. Better than grammarly!"
Ente July 2023
"The immediate help that I received was reassuring and very satisfactory. Thanks."
priiiyanshuu July 2023
"this helps A LOT for my studies."
kathnunez02 June 2023
"Woow!! I would never have expected such precision! Thank you soooo much!!"
Berta June 2023
"Real Time Editor and not AI. Many Thanks."
Priya June 2023
"The very first thing excites me about Textranch is how much your editors care."
sepideh June 2023
"The fact that texts are checked by human editors rather than by AI, etc. I appreciate this!"
Анна June 2023