Nouns That Start With I (Common, Abstract, Proper & Positive Nouns)
The letter I is one of the most useful letters in English, mostly because so many everyday words begin with it. It gives us small ordinary objects, big serious ideas, and a good number of words that make writing sound sharper.
Nouns that start with I are naming words that begin with the letter I. Island names a place, instructor names a person, ink names a thing, and integrity names an idea. All four are I-nouns.
Quick Challenge
Three of these four words are nouns. One is not. Tap the word that doesn’t belong.
See the full answer
Answer: important. It’s an adjective — it describes things rather than naming them. You can have an important meeting, but you can’t have an important on its own.
The other three pass the test easily: the iguana, the invitation, the igloo.
30 Common Nouns That Start with I
These are the I-nouns you’ll meet most often. Read the sentences rather than just the list — seeing a word in use is what makes it stick.
| Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| ice | Add a little ice to the jug before the guests arrive. |
| iceberg | Only a small part of an iceberg sits above the water. |
| icicle | An icicle hung from the edge of the roof all morning. |
| idea | Farah pitched her idea to the marketing team on Tuesday. |
| image | The printer produced a blurry image of the map. |
| inbox | My inbox filled up while I was away at the conference. |
| inch | The shelf sits about an inch too low for the microwave. |
| index | Check the index at the back if you can’t find the chapter. |
| infant | The nurse weighed the infant before the check-up ended. |
| ingredient | One ingredient was missing, so we swapped in lemon juice. |
| inhaler | Keep your inhaler in the side pocket of your school bag. |
| initial | Sign your initial next to each correction on the form. |
| ink | The pen ran out of ink halfway through the exam. |
| insect | A tiny insect landed on the edge of my cup. |
| instrument | Which instrument would you like to learn first? |
| insurance | Travel insurance covered the cost of the delayed flight. |
| interior | The interior of the café feels warmer than it looks from the street. |
| internet | The internet dropped out during our video call. |
| intersection | Turn left at the intersection near the fire station. |
| interview | My interview lasted twenty minutes and went better than expected. |
| inventory | The store closes early on Sunday for inventory. |
| invitation | The invitation says the party starts at seven. |
| invoice | Please send the invoice by the end of the month. |
| iris | A purple iris opened in the corner of the garden. |
| iron | This shirt needs an iron before the presentation. |
| island | We reached the island by ferry just after sunrise. |
| issue | The last issue of the magazine sold out in two days. |
| item | One item on the receipt didn’t match the price tag. |
| ivory | The museum keeps its old ivory carvings behind glass. |
| ivy | Thick ivy covers the north wall of the library. |
Did You Know?
The s in island was a mistake — and it stuck. In Old English the word was igland, with no s anywhere in it. Centuries later, writers noticed the French-Latin word isle and assumed the two must be related, so they slipped an s into island to match.
They weren’t related at all. That silent letter has been sitting there ever since, tripping up spellers who have done nothing wrong.
Countable or Uncountable?
Countable nouns can be counted one by one and have a plural form. Uncountable nouns are treated as a mass and stay singular. Sort these six.
-
idea
-
ivory
-
invoice
-
ice
-
insect
-
information
Notice the pattern. Separate objects you can point at and count are usually countable. Substances and materials that come in an amount rather than a number are usually uncountable.
Abstract Nouns That Start with I
Abstract nouns name things you can’t touch, see, or hold — ideas, feelings, qualities, and states. The letter I is unusually rich in them, which is why so many of these words turn up in essays, reports, and serious discussion.
| Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| identity | Losing her passport made proving her identity surprisingly difficult. |
| ideology | The two parties share a name but not an ideology. |
| illusion | Distance creates the illusion that the mountains are close. |
| impact | The new bus route had an immediate impact on morning traffic. |
| importance | Nobody explained the importance of the deadline until it had passed. |
| impression | His handshake left a strong first impression. |
| impulse | I bought the jacket on impulse and regretted it by Friday. |
| industry | Her success came from patience and quiet industry. |
| infinity | Infinity is easier to picture than it is to define. |
| influence | Coaches have more influence on young players than they realize. |
| information | The website had plenty of information but no phone number. |
| instinct | Trust your instinct when a deal sounds too generous. |
| intellect | The role demands imagination as much as intellect. |
| intensity | The intensity of the rehearsal surprised the new members. |
| intent | The email came across as rude, though I doubt that was the intent. |
| interest | Her interest in astronomy started with one library book. |
| interpretation | Two lawyers gave the same clause a completely different interpretation. |
| intimacy | Small kitchens have an intimacy that big ones lack. |
| intuition | My intuition said the offer wasn’t worth the risk. |
| irony | There’s some irony in a driving instructor missing the turn. |
One Word, Two Lives
Industry works in two very different ways. In the table above it means steady hard work, which is abstract and uncountable.
In everyday business English it means a sector of the economy — the film industry, three major industries — and that sense is countable. Same spelling, different job.
Guess the Meaning
The negotiations reached an impasse on Friday afternoon. Does impasse mean:
The word comes from French and keeps a faint sense of a passage that leads nowhere. It’s useful for reports and news writing, where stuck sounds too casual.
Positive Nouns That Start with I
These words carry warmth, energy, and approval. They’re the ones to reach for in a recommendation letter, a personal statement, a school report, or a speech.
| Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| idealism | Her idealism keeps the whole volunteer group motivated. |
| illumination | One good example brought sudden illumination to a difficult topic. |
| imagination | Give a child a cardboard box and imagination does the rest. |
| immunity | Regular sleep helps build immunity during exam season. |
| impartiality | The referee’s impartiality kept both teams calm. |
| improvement | Your second draft shows real improvement in structure. |
| improvisation | The band’s improvisation turned a three-minute song into ten. |
| incentive | Free coffee turned out to be enough incentive for the early shift. |
| inclusion | The school’s inclusion policy covers every after-school club. |
| independence | Cooking for himself gave Danish a real sense of independence. |
| ingenuity | Fixing the fan with a paper clip took genuine ingenuity. |
| initiative | She took the initiative and rewrote the whole checklist. |
| innocence | There’s an innocence in the way toddlers ask questions. |
| innovation | Small workshops often produce more innovation than large labs. |
| insight | One line of feedback gave me more insight than the entire report. |
| inspiration | The mural outside her apartment became the inspiration for her final project. |
| integrity | He returned the extra change without being asked, which tells you something about his integrity. |
| intelligence | Emotional intelligence matters as much as technical skill in this role. |
| invention | The paper clip is a simple invention nobody has improved on. |
| involvement | Parent involvement made the science fair twice as busy this year. |
Choose the Better Noun
A colleague solved a jammed printer using a hairpin and a paper cup, ten minutes before a client presentation. Which noun describes what she showed?
All three are positive, but they aren’t interchangeable — and picking the precise one is what makes writing sound sharp.
Proper Nouns That Start with I
Proper nouns name one specific person, place, organization, event, or brand — and they always take a capital letter, wherever they sit in the sentence.
| Proper Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Idaho | Idaho grows more potatoes than any other American state. |
| Illinois | Our flight to Illinois leaves before dawn. |
| Independence Day | Most shops close early on Independence Day. |
| Indian Ocean | The Indian Ocean was far warmer than she expected. |
| Indiana | My cousin studies engineering in Indiana. |
| Indianapolis | The conference moves to Indianapolis next spring. |
| Industrial Revolution | The Industrial Revolution changed where families lived and how they worked. |
| She posts her recipes on Instagram every Sunday. | |
| Intel | Intel supplied the processors for the new computer lab. |
| International Space Station | Crew on the International Space Station see sixteen sunrises a day. |
| Iowa | Iowa winters take some getting used to. |
| Isabella | Isabella joined our reading group last month. |
| Islamabad | Islamabad became the capital of Pakistan in the 1960s. |
| Isle of Man | The Isle of Man sits in the Irish Sea, between two larger neighbors. |
| Istanbul | Istanbul spreads across two continents. |
Did You Know?
Internet used to be capitalized, and plenty of people still capitalize it. The major style guides changed their minds: the Associated Press moved to lowercase internet in 2016, and the Chicago Manual of Style followed in its next edition, on the reasoning that it had become an ordinary thing rather than a named network.
Lowercase is now standard in published writing, but you’ll still meet the capital in older documents and in formal legal text — it isn’t wrong so much as dated.
Spot the Incorrect Word
One of these sentences has a capitalization problem. Which one?
See the full answer
Answer: sentence 2. It should read the Pacific Northwest. Named regions work like named places and take capitals.
Notice that general words stay lowercase — state, ocean, revolution — until they become part of the actual name, as in Indian Ocean and Industrial Revolution.
Negative Nouns That Start with I
These nouns name problems, faults, and unpleasant states. You need them for news writing, complaints, reports, argument essays, and honest conversation — but they carry weight, so aim them carefully.
| Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| ignorance | Ignorance of the parking rules won’t get the fine canceled. |
| illness | A short illness kept him off the field for three weeks. |
| immaturity | The prank showed immaturity rather than humor. |
| impatience | Her impatience with slow replies costs her a few clients. |
| incompetence | The delay came from outdated software, not incompetence. |
| inconvenience | We apologize for the inconvenience during the elevator repairs. |
| indecision | Weeks of indecision cost them the apartment. |
| indifference | The worst response to a good idea is indifference. |
| inequality | The report tracks income inequality across the region. |
| infection | The cut healed quickly once the infection cleared. |
| inflation | Inflation made the weekly grocery run noticeably more expensive. |
| injury | A knee injury ended his season in October. |
| injustice | The documentary covers an injustice that took forty years to correct. |
| insecurity | Constant comparison online feeds insecurity. |
| insomnia | Late-night screens can turn into insomnia. |
| insult | He meant it as a joke, but it landed as an insult. |
| interference | Interference from the old router slowed the whole house down. |
| intimidation | The coach made it clear that intimidation has no place in youth sport. |
| intolerance | The club has a written policy against intolerance of any kind. |
| irritation | Dry air causes irritation in the eyes and throat. |
Real-Life Example
Your train is canceled and you reach a meeting forty minutes late. In your apology email, which noun fits?
Matching the size of the word to the size of the problem is one of the fastest ways to sound like a careful writer.
Nouns That Start with I to Describe People
Every word below names a type of person. Some are neutral job titles, some are compliments, and a few are unmistakably critical — so read the note underneath before you use them about anyone real.
- iconoclast
- idealist
- idler
- idol
- illusionist
- illustrator
- imitator
- immigrant
- impersonator
- imposter
- improviser
- incumbent
- individual
- industrialist
- influencer
- informant
- inhabitant
- initiator
- innkeeper
- innovator
- insider
- inspector
- instigator
- instructor
- intellectual
- intermediary
- intern
- interpreter
- interviewer
- introvert
Thirty words, and they are not all equal in tone.
A Note on Tone
- Plain job descriptions: instructor, interpreter, innkeeper, inspector, illustrator, intern. Nobody will be offended by them.
- Leaning positive: innovator, idealist, initiator. They suggest someone who starts things and thinks ahead.
- Criticisms, and strong ones: idler, imposter, instigator, imitator. Calling someone an imposter (dictionaries list impostor first) says they are pretending to be something they’re not. Save these for cases where you mean them.
- Neutral, though often misused: introvert describes someone who recharges alone, not someone who is shy or unfriendly.
- Depends on who’s speaking: iconoclast names a person who attacks accepted beliefs and traditions, and whether that’s praise or complaint depends entirely on the speaker.
Which Word Fits Best?
Your neighbor runs the small guesthouse on the corner. She checks guests in, cooks breakfast, and knows every road in the valley.
Complete List of Nouns That Start with I
The words below go a step beyond the basics. You’ll meet them in news reports, textbooks, workplace emails, and formal writing, and knowing them makes a noticeable difference to how confident your English sounds. Each one comes with a plain-English meaning.
| Noun | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| illustration | a picture that explains or decorates something | The illustration on page four makes the water cycle obvious. |
| imbalance | an uneven distribution between two things | There’s an imbalance between the number of trainers and trainees. |
| impasse | a point where no progress can be made | Talks reached an impasse over weekend pay. |
| implication | a result or meaning that isn’t stated directly | Nobody discussed the implication of moving the deadline. |
| imprint | a mark left by pressing something | Her boots left a clear imprint in the wet sand. |
| incident | a single event, usually unexpected or unwanted | The incident at the gate delayed everyone by an hour. |
| inclination | a natural preference or tendency | My first inclination was to say no. |
| increase | a rise in number, size, or amount | The café saw a sharp increase in weekend orders. |
| indicator | a sign that shows a condition or trend | Attendance is a useful indicator of student interest. |
| inference | a conclusion drawn from evidence | The detective’s inference rested on a single receipt. |
| infrastructure | the basic systems a place depends on, such as roads and power | Flooding damaged the region’s infrastructure. |
| inheritance | money or property passed down from a relative | He put his inheritance into a small bakery. |
| injection | liquid put into the body with a needle | The nurse gave the injection in under a minute. |
| inquiry | a request for information, or a formal investigation | The council opened an inquiry into the missing funds. |
| inscription | words carved or written on an object | The inscription inside the ring lists two dates. |
| installation | equipment put in place, or an artwork built for a space | The installation team finished the new boiler by noon. |
| instruction | a direction telling someone what to do | Read every instruction before you start the test. |
| intake | the amount taken in, or a group admitted at one time The second sense is mainly British. | The college doubled its September intake. |
| interlude | a short section between two longer ones | A guitar interlude separates the two verses. |
| intermission | a break between parts of a performance | We bought samosas during the intermission. |
| internship | a period of work done to gain experience | Her summer internship turned into a job offer. |
| interruption | something that stops an activity for a while | One interruption cost the surgeon ten minutes. |
| interval | a gap of time or space between two things | Rest for a short interval between sets. |
| intervention | a step taken to change what would otherwise happen | Early intervention kept a small leak from ruining the floor. |
| introduction | the opening part of something, or presenting people to each other | The introduction explains why the study was carried out. |
| invasion | entering a place by force or in great numbers | Tourist season feels like a friendly invasion. |
| investment | money or effort put in to gain something later | The new oven was the best investment the bakery ever made. |
| iodine | a chemical element used in medicine and added to salt | Table salt often has iodine added to it. |
| irrigation | supplying land with water so crops can grow | Drip irrigation saves water on the vegetable plots. |
| itinerary | a plan of a journey, stop by stop | Our itinerary leaves Thursday afternoon completely free. |
Quick Note: Two Atlantic Differences Worth Knowing
Intermission or interval?
American theaters have an intermission. British theatres have an interval. Both words exist in both countries, but each has its home.
Inquiry or enquiry?
In British English, an enquiry is a simple question and an inquiry is a formal investigation. American English uses inquiry for both and rarely writes enquiry at all.
Match the Noun
Match each word to its meaning, then check your answers.
- imprint
- inference
- impasse
- inclination
- inscription
Words That Start with I for Kids with Examples
These are the friendly ones — short, concrete, and easy to picture. They work well for early readers, spelling practice, classroom word walls, and alphabet games at home.
| Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| ibex | An ibex is a wild goat with long, curved horns. |
| ibis | A white ibis walked along the edge of the shallow water. |
| ice cube | Drop one ice cube in your juice, not five. |
| ice pop | The ice pop melted faster than she could eat it. |
| ice skates | My ice skates are still a size too big. |
| ice tray | Fill the ice tray and slide it back into the freezer. |
| igloo | We built a small igloo out of packed snow. |
| iguana | The iguana sat perfectly still on the warm rock. |
| imp | The imp in the story hides everyone’s shoes and giggles. |
| impala | An impala can leap right over a tall bush. |
| inchworm | An inchworm bends its body into a little loop as it walks. |
| index finger | Point with your index finger, not your whole hand. |
| inkblot | Each inkblot looked like a different animal. |
| inner tube | Dad patched the inner tube before our ride to the lake. |
| itch | I have an itch right between my shoulder blades. |
Tip for Parents and Teachers
Children learn concrete nouns faster than abstract ones, because a concrete noun can be pointed at. Iguana and ice cube land straight away. Independence and intuition need a story before they mean anything.
Start with the things in the room, then move outward.
Foods That Start with I
English is short on I-foods compared with letters like B or C, and several of the best ones are borrowed from other cuisines. Here are the genuine ones rather than a padded list.
| Food Noun | What It Is |
|---|---|
| ice cream | a frozen dessert made from cream or milk |
| iceberg lettuce | a pale, crunchy lettuce that grows in a tight round head |
| iced coffee | chilled coffee, usually poured over ice |
| iced tea | chilled tea, often sweetened and served with lemon |
| icing | a sweet coating spread or piped over cakes American English usually calls the thicker kind frosting. |
| idli | a soft, steamed rice cake from South India |
| injera | a large, spongy flatbread from Ethiopia and Eritrea |
| instant noodles | dried noodles that cook in a few minutes in hot water |
| Irish soda bread | a quick bread raised with baking soda instead of yeast |
| Israeli couscous | small toasted pasta balls, bigger than ordinary couscous |
| Italian dressing | an oil-and-vinegar salad dressing flavored with herbs |
Country Names That Start with I
There are eight countries whose names begin with I. That’s the full list, not a selection. Côte d’Ivoire, once called the Ivory Coast in English, is filed under C today.
| Country | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Iceland | Iceland heats most of its homes using geothermal energy. |
| India | India recognizes twenty-two scheduled languages in its constitution. |
| Indonesia | Indonesia is spread across thousands of separate islands. |
| Iran | Persian is the main language spoken in Iran. |
| Iraq | The Tigris and the Euphrates both run through Iraq. |
| Ireland | Dublin is the capital of Ireland. |
| Israel | Hebrew is the main language of Israel. |
| Italy | Italy is shaped a little like a boot. |
Place Nouns That Start with I
These name types of place rather than specific ones, which makes them common nouns. Keep them lowercase unless they form part of an actual name.
| Place | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| ice rink | The ice rink opens at six on weekday mornings. |
| immigration office | Bring two forms of identification to the immigration office. |
| indoor market | The indoor market stays busy even in heavy rain. |
| industrial park | Her workshop sits at the far end of the industrial park. |
| infirmary | The school infirmary keeps a record of every visit. |
| inlet | Small boats shelter in the inlet whenever the wind rises. |
| inn | We stayed at a quiet inn about a mile from the trail. |
| institute | The institute offers evening classes in translation. |
| intensive care unit | Visitors to the intensive care unit are limited to two at a time. |
| internet café | He printed his boarding pass at an internet café near the station. |
| islet | A single tree grows on the islet in the middle of the lake. |
| isthmus | A narrow isthmus connects the two halves of the park. |
Mini Revision
Cover the tables and answer these three from memory.
Common Mistakes When Using I-Nouns
Here are the errors that show up most often in real writing, with the reason behind each one.
-
Adding a plural to an uncountable noun
Incorrect: I need some informations about the course.
Correct: I need some information about the course.
Also correct: I need a few pieces of information about the course.
Information has no plural form and never takes a or an. If you must count it, count the containers instead: a piece of information, two pieces of information.
-
Using a instead of an
Incorrect: She had a idea during the meeting.
Correct: She had an idea during the meeting.
Use an before a vowel sound. Every ordinary I-noun begins with one, so an is your default: an inch, an interview, an igloo.
-
Forgetting capital letters on proper nouns
Incorrect: We landed in italy on a wednesday in july.
Correct: We landed in Italy on a Wednesday in July.
Countries, days, and months are proper nouns and always take capitals. The reverse also matters: general words stay lowercase, and internet is now lowercase in most modern style guides.
-
Using much with a countable noun
Incorrect: The team reported much injuries this season.
Correct: The team reported many injuries this season.
Injury is countable, so it takes many. Save much for uncountable nouns: much inflation, much interference.
-
Choosing the wrong plural of index
Incorrect: The textbook has three indices at the back.
Correct: The textbook has three indexes at the back.
Both plurals are correct — in different places. Use indexes for lists at the back of books. Use indices for the technical sense in mathematics, statistics, and economics: stock market indices, price indices.
-
Mixing up immigrant and emigrant
Incorrect: Canada welcomed thousands of emigrants last year.
Correct: Canada welcomed thousands of immigrants last year.
An immigrant comes into a country. An emigrant exits. The same person is both, depending on which side of the border you’re standing on.
-
Confusing illusion, allusion, and delusion
Incorrect: The magician created a clever allusion.
Correct: The magician created a clever illusion.
An illusion is something that appears real but isn’t. An allusion is an indirect reference to something else — her speech made an allusion to the flood. A delusion is a false belief the person genuinely holds.
-
Using invite as a noun in formal writing
Incorrect: Thank you for the invite to the awards dinner.
Correct: Thank you for the invitation to the awards dinner.
Invite as a noun is common in speech and perfectly fine in a message to a friend. In a formal letter or email, invitation is the safe choice.
Practice Exercises
Work through all seven. The answer key sits at the end, closed until you open it.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks
- ingredient
- inbox
- itinerary
- insurance
- iceberg
- inspiration
Exercise 2: Choose the correct noun
-
He shouted an __________ at the referee and was sent off.
-
Early __________ saved most of the crop.
-
She showed real __________ by fixing the system before anyone asked.
-
The doctor treated the __________ with antibiotics.
-
We stretched our legs during the __________.
Exercise 3: Match the noun with its meaning
Exercise 4: Countable or uncountable?
-
idea
-
ivory
-
invoice
-
ice
-
insect
-
information
Exercise 5: Common or proper?
-
island
-
Iceland
-
instructor
-
Instagram
-
inn
-
Istanbul
Exercise 6: Rewrite the sentence
Replace the bold phrase with a single I-noun.
Exercise 7: Correct the mistake
Find the error in each sentence, then open the answer to compare.
1. My uncle sent me two informations about the visa.
My uncle sent me some information about the visa. Or: two pieces of information.
2. We spent a week in ireland last june.
We spent a week in Ireland last June.
3. That’s a excellent idea.
That’s an excellent idea.
4. There were too much injuries to list.
There were too many injuries to list.
5. Thank you for the invite to your wedding. (formal thank-you card)
Thank you for the invitation to your wedding.
Answers
Show the full answer key
- Exercise 1: 1. ingredient 2. inbox 3. itinerary 4. insurance 5. iceberg 6. inspiration
- Exercise 2: 1. insult 2. intervention 3. initiative 4. infection 5. intermission
- Exercise 3: 1–c, 2–a, 3–d, 4–e, 5–b
- Exercise 4: 1. countable 2. uncountable 3. countable 4. uncountable 5. countable 6. uncountable
- Exercise 5: 1. common 2. proper 3. common 4. proper 5. common 6. proper
- Exercise 6: 1. intuition 2. infrastructure 3. investment
- Exercise 7: 1. My uncle sent me some information about the visa. 2. We spent a week in Ireland last June. 3. That’s an excellent idea. 4. There were too many injuries to list. 5. Thank you for the invitation to your wedding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a noun that starts with I?
It’s a naming word whose first letter is I. It can name a person (instructor), a place (island), a thing (invoice), or an idea (integrity). If you can put the in front of the word and the phrase feels complete, you’re almost certainly holding a noun.
What are some easy nouns starting with I for kids?
Ice cube, igloo, iguana, inchworm, ice skates, impala, index finger, and itch all work well. They name things a child can see or feel, which makes them far easier to remember than abstract words.
Which countries begin with the letter I?
Eight: Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, and Italy. Ivory Coast is officially Côte d’Ivoire, so it’s listed under C on international lists.
Is internet a common noun or a proper noun?
It’s treated as a common noun today, which is why it’s written in lowercase in most modern style guides. It began life capitalized as the name of a specific network, and you’ll still see the capital in older or very formal documents.
What are abstract nouns that start with I?
Identity, imagination, importance, influence, instinct, integrity, intelligence, intuition, and irony are all abstract — they name ideas and qualities rather than physical objects. English has an unusually large supply of them starting with I.
Is information countable or uncountable?
Uncountable. It has no plural and never takes a or an. Say some information, a lot of information, or a piece of information. The same rule catches out advice, equipment, and furniture.
What is the plural of index?
Both indexes and indices are correct, but they’ve split by meaning. Books have indexes. Mathematics, statistics, and economics use indices. Choosing the wrong one won’t confuse a reader, but the right one signals that you know the field.
Why do so many I-nouns begin with in-?
Most of them came into English from Latin, where in- did two different jobs. It could mean not, which gives us injustice, inequality, and incompetence. It could also mean in or into, which gives us income, intake, and invasion. Spotting which meaning is at work often unlocks a word you’ve never seen before.
Which positive I-nouns work well on a résumé?
Initiative, integrity, ingenuity, innovation, improvement, and insight all read well — as long as each one sits next to evidence. A noun on its own is a claim. A noun followed by a result is a fact.
Do all nouns beginning with I take an?
In practice, yes. The letter I is pronounced as a vowel sound at the start of ordinary English nouns, so an is correct: an inch, an instrument, an itinerary. The same holds for abbreviations that begin with an I sound, such as an IOU.
What’s the difference between illusion, allusion, and delusion?
An illusion looks real but isn’t — a mirage, or a magic trick. An allusion is an indirect mention of something: the poem makes an allusion to the war. A delusion is a false belief that the person actually holds. They sound similar and mean three entirely different things.
See also:
