a mysterious condition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mysterious condition" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an unknown or unexplained medical or psychological issue. Example: "The doctor was puzzled by the patient's symptoms, which seemed to indicate a mysterious condition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

C.C.D. is a mysterious condition that causes worker honeybees to abandon their hives.

The New York Times

In this novel by an Austrian writer, children with a mysterious condition — Indigo syndrome — cause those who come near to suffer from nausea, dizziness, diarrhea.

The New Yorker

But among the wider population it has remained a mysterious condition, although it is known to affect at least 4.4% of adults across its many forms.

The Guardian

Fandom is of course a mysterious condition, not easily understood by anyone not in its grip, but this week I thought I'd ask him how he could manage to stay so true to an old London institution now ruled by a cunning megalomaniac whose death might have been cheered by the sailors in Battleship Potemkin.

The Guardian - Opinion

Five years ago, bees made headlines when a mysterious condition called colony collapse disorder decimated honey bee colonies in parts of the United States.

Science Magazine

Evidence of experiences like Hess's can be traced back to the 1970s, when researchers in Japan described a mysterious condition in patients with chronic yeast infections.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, is a very mysterious condition which you will want to protect against.

WikiHow

People with MS--a mysterious degenerative condition characterized by muscle weakness and, in advanced cases, paralysis and mental problems--have nerve-cell lesions in the brain and spinal cord containing high levels of the neurotransmitter nitric oxide (NO).

Science Magazine

I love the very term "sexy" because it covers such a range of possibilities: the mysterious condition that is chemistry, manifested in eye contact, the brush of a hand, caressing, kissing, and maybe -- down the line, love-making with a capital "L".

Huffington Post

Just days after Science fully retracted the controversial 2009 paper suggesting that a virus called XMRV plays a role in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), the only other paper supporting a link between a mouse-related virus and the mysterious condition has been officially stricken from the scientific record.

Science Magazine

Ankiel was a pitcher at the time, futilely struggling to overcome the mysterious condition that prevented him from throwing a baseball in the direction he aimed it and an elbow injury that in 2003 required what is known as Tommy John surgery.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a mysterious condition", provide context or details about the condition's effects or symptoms to enhance clarity and engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "a mysterious condition" as a vague placeholder. Always strive to provide some specific details or characteristics of the condition, even if its exact nature is unknown, to make your writing more informative and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mysterious condition" functions as a noun phrase, where "mysterious" modifies the noun "condition". Ludwig examples show it describing various medical and non-medical scenarios where the underlying cause or nature is unknown. Ludwig AI confirms it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a mysterious condition" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes an unknown or poorly understood state, especially in medical or general contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While versatile, it's important to provide context to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "an enigmatic ailment" or "an unexplained disorder" can offer nuanced variations. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and scientific sources, indicating its broad applicability across different registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an enigmatic ailment

Replaces "mysterious" with "enigmatic", emphasizing the puzzling nature of the condition.

an unexplained disorder

Substitutes "mysterious" with "unexplained" and "condition" with "disorder", highlighting the lack of a clear explanation.

an obscure illness

Uses "obscure" instead of "mysterious" to suggest the condition is not well-known or understood.

a baffling syndrome

Uses "baffling" to convey the perplexing nature and "syndrome" as a more specific type of condition.

a perplexing health problem

Emphasizes the confusing nature of the health issue, using "perplexing" and "problem" as alternatives.

an atypical medical issue

Replaces "mysterious condition" with a more general description, focusing on the unusual nature of the medical problem.

an unfathomable medical state

Replaces "mysterious" with "unfathomable" to emphasize the difficulty in understanding the medical situation.

an inscrutable affliction

Replaces "mysterious" with "inscrutable", highlighting the difficulty in interpreting the affliction.

an arcane disease

Uses "arcane" to suggest the condition is understood by few and "disease" as a type of condition.

an abstruse malady

Employs "abstruse" and "malady" to denote a condition that is difficult to comprehend and causes suffering.

FAQs

How can I use "a mysterious condition" in a sentence?

You can use "a mysterious condition" to describe a medical or other state that is not well understood. For example: "The patient presented with symptoms indicative of "a mysterious condition", baffling the medical team."

What are some alternatives to "a mysterious condition"?

Alternatives include "an enigmatic ailment", "an unexplained disorder", or "an obscure illness", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a mysterious condition"?

It's suitable when describing a situation where the cause or nature of a health problem is unknown or poorly understood. However, try to add some context about the symptoms to avoid vagueness.

Is "a mysterious condition" formal or informal?

"A mysterious condition" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal writing might benefit from a more precise term if available.