a curious incident

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a curious incident" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an unusual or interesting event or occurrence that captures attention. Example: "The detective recounted a curious incident that led him to solve the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The best first book prize went to Mark Haddon for A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

The Guardian - Books

A few years ago, there was a curious incident when Wolf told a Glasgow newspaper that she had had a vision of Jesus.

The Guardian

But his dress rehearsal for the crime — a curious incident involving an inflatable doll, a construction site and quantities of poured concrete — goes horribly wrong, and though Eva remains gratingly alive, Wilt winds up accused of her murder.

The New York Times - Books

As a result, though, despite all its cleverness, because of all its cleverness, Safran Foer's book, taking A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time view of global terrorism risks a kind of smugness.

The Guardian - Books

Other group favourites this year were the breathtaking A Curious Incident Of The Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon and of course Dan Brown's The Davinci Code - I'm on my third read!

The Guardian - Books

Wimbledon and etiquette tend to go hand in hand but on Monday, on Court No7, there was a curious incident involving a leading doubles player, a refused bathroom break and a ball-can.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

They have also exposed a most curious incident that has triggered the administration's stonewall reflex.

The Guardian

You'd think so, but it would appear that the Conan Doyle legacy doesn't have the financial weight to solve what has become a most curious incident.

Independent

I also get to be very physical like that on stage often, so doing a show like "Curious Incident," which has lots of physicality, makes me feel very comfortable.

Huffington Post

On every inch of wall or railing, posters plead for notice, betting mainly on an arresting title containing a cultural pun – The Curious Incident of the Frog in My Sightline – or a festival self-reference such as Gavin Webster's A Controversial Title in Order To Sell Tickets.

The Guardian

"I started a bit of a movement in Ohio when I sent a friend there a copy of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a curious incident" when you want to subtly highlight an event as being unusual and worthy of attention, without necessarily implying anything negative or alarming. This phrase is often suitable for setting a tone of mild intrigue or gentle surprise in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a curious incident" too frequently in your writing. While it's a valid phrase, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or affected. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "an odd event" or "a strange occurrence" to keep your prose fresh and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a curious incident" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific event that is noteworthy for being unusual or interesting, as exemplified by the many examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a curious incident" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for denoting an unusual or noteworthy occurrence. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it’s considered correct in written English. While categorized as having an uncommon frequency, its use is varied across different contexts, prominently featuring in News & Media. When writing, remember that the best practice is to employ it to subtly highlight an event worthy of attention, but be cautious of overuse. If you need to keep things fresh, try alternative phrases like "an odd event" or "a strange occurrence". Overall, "a curious incident" serves as a valuable addition to one's vocabulary to convey intrigue and subtle surprise, and is backed by real-world examples and expert linguistic analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an odd event

Replaces "curious" with "odd", suggesting something strange or peculiar happened.

a strange occurrence

Uses "strange" and "occurrence" to convey the unusual nature of the event.

an unusual happening

Substitutes "curious" with "unusual" and "incident" with "happening", indicating something out of the ordinary.

a peculiar episode

Employs "peculiar" and "episode" to denote a distinct and somewhat strange event.

an interesting anomaly

Replaces "curious incident" with "interesting anomaly", emphasizing the deviation from the norm.

a remarkable phenomenon

Uses "remarkable phenomenon" to highlight the noteworthy and observable nature of the incident.

a noteworthy event

Highlights the significance of the event.

an atypical situation

Indicates that the incident deviates from the typical or expected.

an unexpected twist

Focuses on the element of surprise or unpredictability associated with the incident.

a singular circumstance

Uses more formal language to describe a unique and particular event.

FAQs

How can I use "a curious incident" in a sentence?

You can use "a curious incident" to introduce an event that is slightly unusual or noteworthy. For example, "A curious incident occurred during the meeting, when the lights suddenly went out."

What are some alternatives to "a curious incident"?

Some alternatives to "a curious incident" include "a strange occurrence", "an unusual event", or "an odd happening". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a curious incident" formal or informal?

"A curious incident" is generally considered neutral in tone. It's suitable for both formal and informal writing, although more formal contexts might benefit from alternatives like "a remarkable phenomenon" depending on the situation.

What does "a curious incident" imply?

"A curious incident" implies that something unusual or unexpected has happened. It doesn't necessarily suggest anything negative, but it does draw attention to the event as being worthy of note. It can be an "odd event" that is worthy of investigation.