an + are

If you see "an are" in a sentence, it's almost always a mistake. Articles a/an attach to nouns or noun phrases by sound; verbs like "are" don't take them. The only time an + "ar" sound is correct is when you mean the letter R (written "an R").

Quick answer

Don't put "an" immediately before the verb "are." Either remove the article or move it so it modifies a noun (for example, "a fan").

Articles choose by sound and attach to nouns or noun phrases, not verbs.
If you mean the letter R, use "an R." Otherwise drop the stray "an."
Fixes are usually: delete the extra article or rewrite so the article sits next to a noun.

Core explanation: the rule

Use a/an before a noun (or adjective + noun) based on the initial sound: vowel sounds take an, consonant sounds take a. Verbs-are, is, have, do-never follow a/an as part of the same noun phrase.

Sound-based examples: "an hour" (hour begins with a vowel sound), "a university" (you-niversity begins with a consonant sound).
If the next word is a verb, drop the article: "There are three options," not "There an are three options."

Wrong: I am an are fan.
Right: I am a fan. (Or, if you mean the letter: I am an R fan.)
Wrong: There an are three problems.
Right: There are three problems.

Real usage: when an + "ar" is correct

You only use an with the "ar" sound when the next item is a noun pronounced with an initial vowel sound-most commonly the letter R. Proper names or brand names count only if their spoken form starts with a vowel sound.

Correct (letter): I'm practicing an R sound for phonetics.
Incorrect (verb): She an are ready. → Correct: She is ready.
Name edge case: If a band named Are is pronounced "air," you might write: an "Are" single-confirm pronunciation first.

How this error usually appears

Three common causes: stray typing, speech-to-text insertion at pauses, and transfer from another language's article rules. Contractions or merged words can hide the problem.

Speech-to-text: a pause can insert "an" before a verb-"If you an are free" instead of "If you are free."
Fast typing: extra words or merged tokens like "anare."
L1 interference: learners may misplace articles based on their native language patterns.

Wrong (speech-to-text): If you an are free, call me. → Right: If you are free, call me.
Wrong (typo): There an are many steps to follow. → Right: There are many steps to follow.

Work examples - copy-ready corrections

At work, extra articles make messages look careless. Use the fixed lines below or paste the rewrite templates.

Wrong: If you an are available, join the 10am sync. →
Right: If you are available, join the 10am sync.
Wrong: We an are planning the Q3 release. →
Right: We are planning the Q3 release.
Wrong: There an are three stakeholders to consult. →
Right: There are three stakeholders to consult.
Work rewrite (paste): Please confirm if you are available for the meeting.

School examples - essays and assignments

Students often rush; reading aloud catches misplaced articles quickly.

Wrong: Students an are required to submit by Friday. →
Right: Students are required to submit by Friday.
Wrong: There an are three sources required for the essay. →
Right: There are three sources required for the essay.
Wrong: If you an are unsure, ask during office hours. →
Right: If you are unsure, ask during office hours.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence aloud: context usually reveals whether the next word is a noun or a verb. Use the checker widget if you want an automated look.

Casual examples - texts and social posts

Short messages and autocorrect produce many visible slips. Keep casual writing direct.

Wrong (text): U an are late lol. → Right: You are late lol.
Wrong: There an are so many memes today. →
Right: There are so many memes today.
Wrong: I an are pumped for the weekend! →
Right: I am pumped for the weekend!

Rewrite help: quick edits and templates

Checklist: 1) Find a/an before a verb. 2) Remove the article. 3) If you need an article, attach it to a noun or rephrase.

Rewrite:
Incorrect: If you an are interested, let me know. → If you are interested, let me know.
Rewrite:
Incorrect: There an are multiple factors to consider. → There are multiple factors to consider.
Rewrite:
Incorrect: I am an are proud of our progress. → I am proud of our progress.
Template (work): If you are available, please join the call.
Template (school): There are three required sources for this paper.

Hyphenation, spacing and edge cases

Merged tokens and odd apostrophes are common with fast typing or bad voice recognition; treat them as article-placement errors.

Fix merged tokens: change "anare" to "are" or rewrite with the subject present: "You are going to be late."
Contractions: "there're" is conversational and can hide recognition errors-prefer "there are" in formal writing.
If you mean the letter, write "an R" or "the letter R" to make the noun status clear.

Wrong (merged): Anare going to be late. → Right: You are going to be late.
Wrong (contraction confusion): There'an are many options. → Right: There are many options.

Memory trick and quick practice

Mnemonic: "Articles go with nouns - verbs stand alone." Say it aloud when proofreading one sentence.

Practice: scan five recent messages. For each a/an, ask: "Is the next word a noun?" If not, delete the article.
Quick habit: listen for common verbs after a/an (are, is, was, were, have, do) and remove the article if it precedes a verb.
Exercise: Convert "There an are five items" → "There are five items." Convert "I am an are excited" → "I am excited."

FAQ

Is "an are" ever correct?

No. When "are" is the verb it's never correct. The only time an + "ar" sound is right is with the letter R or a noun that starts with a vowel sound.

Why do speakers type "an are" so often?

Typical causes: speech-to-text inserting an article at a pause, fast typing, merged tokens, or transfer from another language. Reading aloud reveals the mismatch quickly.

If I mean the letter R, how should I write it?

Write "an R" or "the letter R" (for example, "an R rating"). That makes it a noun phrase and takes an article by sound.

Can contractions hide this mistake?

Yes. Contractions like "there're" can mask insertion errors from voice recognition. For clarity, use "there are" in formal writing.

Will grammar checkers catch every case?

Most tools flag obvious "an are" constructions but may miss merged tokens or unusual proper names. Combine a checker with a quick read-aloud for best results.

Want a quick second check?

Read the sentence aloud and, if you're unsure, paste it into a grammar tool for a fast suggestion. A short manual check plus a tool will catch most "an are" slips before you send or submit your text.