a peculiar instance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a peculiar instance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a specific case or example that is unusual or distinctive in some way. Example: "The scientist noted a peculiar instance during the experiment that contradicted previous findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In short, who dares win will die but his genes are more likely to live on in the next generation.Dr Foellmer and Dr Fairbairn cite a peculiar instance of a male spider that died after mistakenly inserting his second pedipalp into the carcass of a mealworm.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

IT WAS a peculiar case.

The Economist

India is a peculiar case.

Forbes

A peculiar case is cancer.

Aging

In Sutton v Hutchinson [2005], he encountered one of the more peculiar instances of such activities: "The appellant is a lap dancer.

The Guardian

Alice, ever antisocial, refuses to become another number, a mere instance of a peculiar species rather than a world unto herself.

The New York Times - Books

(The new, much-publicized Speedo LZR bodysuit that Phelps wears, for instance, is a peculiar cross between a piece of lingerie and a tourniquet; fabricated by ultrasonic welding rather than by stitching, it molds the swimmer's trunk into a drag-reducing form, can take 20 minutes to don and is proving to be a great improvement, speedwise, on old fashioned, no-tech skin).

The New York Times - Sports

For instance, the Bel/Pao class of retrotransposons exhibits a peculiar distribution because they are absent from mammals but present in nearly all other groups of metazoans, from platyhelminthes to fishes (Copeland et al. 2005).

Genome Biology and Evolution

All flatfishes, for instance, have spines on some of their vertebrae that bow forward in a peculiar and distinctive way.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

For instance plants are clearly a eukaryotic lineage that can be inserted into a eukaryotic tree, and not a peculiar lineage of cyanobacteria.

Biology Direct

(It's a peculiar car).

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic or investigative writing, using "a peculiar instance" can signal that the case warrants closer examination due to its irregularities.

Common error

Avoid using "a peculiar instance" when you simply mean something is interesting or positive. 'Peculiar' implies something is strange or odd, not necessarily good.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a peculiar instance" functions as a noun phrase, where 'peculiar' modifies the noun 'instance'. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English, serving to highlight a specific case or example that stands out as unusual or distinctive.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a peculiar instance" is used to describe something that is unusual or distinctive. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and utility in written English. It appears in both news and scientific contexts and has a neutral tone. When using this phrase, remember that 'peculiar' implies something is odd or strange, not necessarily positive or negative. Alternative phrases like "an odd occurrence" or "a strange case" can be used depending on the specific situation. The most frequent sources using it are

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an odd occurrence

Replaces 'peculiar' with 'odd', maintaining the sense of something unusual happening.

a strange case

Substitutes 'peculiar' with 'strange' and 'instance' with 'case', focusing on an unusual situation.

an unusual event

Replaces 'peculiar' with 'unusual' and 'instance' with 'event', emphasizing the uncommon nature of what happened.

a remarkable incident

Uses 'remarkable' instead of 'peculiar', adding a layer of noteworthiness to the event.

a curious situation

Employs 'curious' in place of 'peculiar', suggesting the instance provokes inquiry or interest.

a singular occurrence

Replaces 'peculiar' with 'singular', emphasizing the uniqueness of the event.

an atypical episode

Uses 'atypical' to denote something outside the norm and 'episode' instead of 'instance'.

an anomalous event

Replaces 'peculiar' with 'anomalous', pointing to a deviation from what is standard or expected.

a bizarre happening

Substitutes 'peculiar' with 'bizarre', highlighting the strangeness of the event.

an uncommon phenomenon

Uses 'uncommon' and 'phenomenon' to describe an event that is not frequently observed.

FAQs

How can I use "a peculiar instance" in a sentence?

You can use "a peculiar instance" to describe an unusual or odd occurrence. For example, "The scientist noted "a peculiar instance" during the experiment that contradicted previous findings".

What are some alternatives to "a peculiar instance"?

Alternatives include "an odd occurrence", "a strange case", or "an unusual event", depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "a peculiar instance" and "a typical instance"?

"A peculiar instance" refers to something that is unusual or strange, while "a typical instance" refers to something that is representative or common.

Is it appropriate to use "a peculiar instance" in formal writing?

Yes, "a peculiar instance" is appropriate in formal writing when you need to describe a specific case or example that is unusual or distinctive. However, ensure that the tone matches the formality of the document.