A x factor vs An x factor

Both "a x factor" and "an x factor" can be correct depending on the pronunciation of the following word. If the next word starts with a vowel sound, you should use "an x factor." If it starts with a consonant sound, you should use "a x factor."

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 557 views

A x factor

This phrase is correct when the following word starts with a consonant sound.

Use "a x factor" when the next word starts with a consonant sound. The article "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound.

Examples:

She has a x factor that makes her stand out in the crowd.
He is a x factor in the success of the project.

Alternatives:

a factor
a unique factor
a special factor
a key factor
a crucial factor

An x factor

This phrase is correct when the following word starts with a vowel sound.

Use "an x factor" when the next word starts with a vowel sound. The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

Examples:

She is an x factor in the team's performance.
An x factor in the equation changed the outcome.

Show examples from the web [+]

Oscar is definitely an X factor in my theory.
I define it by the number of relevant facts it contains, and I define it by an X factor that I trust Will and myself to determine, using our combined five decades in the field.
What we look for in a car is, and I'm loathed to use the word, it's an X factor.
And none of them will have something, that we're really looking for on this new series of Top Gear. It's an X factor.
! That was like an X Factor result pause!

Alternatives:

an element of surprise
an unknown factor
an important factor
an essential factor
an influential factor

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).

"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
"Feel welcome, immediate response, high quality feedback"
martin.roy June 2023
"This is the best app that I have ever seen"
Burulai May 2023

A x factor vs An x factor

A x factor

An x factor

Related Comparisons

What Our Customers Are Saying