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I wrote it this way in my manuscript:

We construct a 25-order planar graph with minimum degree 4.

My grammar checker (languagetool.jar) is reminding me to use "an" instead of "a." I'm a bit unsure, so I'm asking here. enter image description here

I suspect the reason could be that the grammar checker doesn't recognize "25" and instead directly recognizes "order."

I'm not sure if the issue is with this software or if it's related to using "number-noun" constructions (as there might be specific rules regarding this).

Andrew Leach
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    Whether to use "a" or "an" will depend on how you pronounce "25". If you say "twenty-five", then use "a". Maybe languagetool had in mind some other pronunciation... – GEdgar Aug 26 '23 at 09:14
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    @GEdgar is there a different way of pronouncing "25"? – Mari-Lou A Aug 26 '23 at 09:59
  • Amazingly I have found examples on Amazon and other suppliers which use the indefinite article "Designed with an 22 mm closed top with no septa for non-critical analysis" and "Portraits are often mentioned as a problem for an 28 mm lens perspective." Who knew!? BUT the vast majority of results show a preference for the indefinite article "a" – Mari-Lou A Aug 26 '23 at 10:07
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    @AndrewLeach This question is closed as a duplicate of two older questions but the number 1100 does indeed have two different pronunciations: "one thousand (and) one hundred" OR "Eleven hundred". What other way can 25-order be pronounced? – Mari-Lou A Aug 26 '23 at 11:45
  • @Mari-LouA The question is answered by the first duplicate. The second is tangentially relevant. If you think it should be removed, raise a flag and another mod will consider it. – Andrew Leach Aug 26 '23 at 11:52
  • @AndrewLeach so are you confirming that there is only one way to pronounce "25-order"? – Mari-Lou A Aug 26 '23 at 12:02
  • Well, I suppose 25 could be spelled out in digits. I reiterate: please raise a flag. – Andrew Leach Aug 26 '23 at 12:06
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    @AndrewLeach Whether said as "twenty-five" or as "two-five" or as "twenty-fifth" or any other permutation, the initial "t" does not change, nor should the "a" be changed to an "an." This is not an initial vowel that could change depending on its pronunciation, nor is it an "h" or any other letter that might be silent. – Biblasia Aug 26 '23 at 12:09
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    Using 'an' here is wrong, plain and simple. The choice is determined by pronunciation of the following entity alone (with one or two grey areas with words like hotel / historic, and where what follows is open to differing pronunciations (eg FAQ) or even readings). – Edwin Ashworth Aug 26 '23 at 14:12

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