a peculiar time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a peculiar time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a moment or period that is unusual or strange in some way. Example: "We are living in a peculiar time where technology and society are evolving at an unprecedented pace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The late 1950s were a peculiar time in this country.

Princeton University

It was a peculiar time to proclaim America's higher destiny.

The New York Times

It was a peculiar time in Connecticut history.

The New York Times

The Newtown shootings occurred at a peculiar time in gun rights history in this nation.

The New York Times

But while we're on about money, this is a peculiar time, isn't it?

The Guardian - Opinion

The period between submission and announcement of results is a peculiar time.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"This has been a very peculiar time," said Gail Fosler, the chief economist at the Conference Board, a research group that calculates the index of leading indicators each month.

The New York Times

"Oh, I believe so we are in a really peculiar time in our country, where people are comfortable saying things about particular groups, and they encourage fear, and they encourage violence, and I want to challenge those ideas," she said.

The Guardian - Sport

But Beats' bid for another investor comes at a pretty peculiar time.

TechCrunch

If anything, queer culture is merely changing adapting to a society where being queer (or loving and befriending queer people) is the new normal; one where we have cultural acceptance without political justice; one where the interplay between assimilation and resistance has made it an increasingly peculiar time to identify as LGBTQ.

Vice

The power and drive of Brubeck's band would surprise anyone taken in by his reputation as an overly cerebral composer with a liking for peculiar time signatures.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a peculiar time" to describe a period marked by unusual or unique circumstances. It adds a touch of intrigue and signals that the situation deviates from the ordinary.

Common error

While "a peculiar time" is acceptable, avoid overusing "peculiar" in highly formal writing. Opt for synonyms like "unusual", "distinctive", or "singular" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a peculiar time" functions as a noun phrase, with "peculiar" modifying the noun "time". It typically acts as a subject complement or an adverbial modifier, adding descriptive detail about the nature of a specific period, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

14%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a peculiar time" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to depict a period distinguished by unusual or notable characteristics. As Ludwig AI affirms, it enjoys widespread acceptance across various contexts, most notably in news, media, and academic spheres. While it’s versatility allows for diverse application, awareness of its formal register is recommended. To enhance expression precision, one could opt for alternatives such as "an unusual period", depending on the intended nuance. Use it effectively to signal unusual and unique circumstances in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unusual period

Replaces "peculiar" with "unusual", maintaining the sense of something out of the ordinary but emphasizing the rarity.

a strange moment

Substitutes "time" with "moment" to focus on a specific instance, and "peculiar" with "strange" to indicate something odd.

an odd era

Replaces "time" with "era" suggesting a longer duration with some quirky characteristics, and "peculiar" with "odd" implying something deviates from the norm.

a singular juncture

Uses "singular" instead of "peculiar", suggesting a unique occurrence, and replaces "time" with the more formal "juncture".

a curious phase

Substitutes "peculiar" with "curious", implying intrigue and interest, and replace "time" with "phase" to show the transient nature of something.

a remarkable interval

Replaces "peculiar" with "remarkable", emphasizing how something attracts attention, and replace "time" with "interval" to describe a specific amount of time.

an exceptional duration

Replaces "peculiar" with "exceptional", emphasizing quality of an occasion, and replace "time" with "duration" to express how long something lasts.

a noteworthy season

Replaces "peculiar" with "noteworthy", emphasizing that something attracts attention, and replace "time" with "season" to indicate a particular period of the year.

an atypical instance

Uses "atypical" instead of "peculiar", suggesting deviation from the norm, and uses "instance" in place of "time" to refer to an occasion.

an unprecedented moment

Replace "peculiar" with "unprecedented" suggesting that something has never happened before, and "time" with "moment" for a very short amount of time.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a peculiar time"?

You can use alternatives like "an unusual period", "a strange moment", or "an odd era" depending on the context.

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

You can use "a peculiar time" to describe a period or moment that is unusual or strange in some way. For example, "The late 1950s were a peculiar time in this country".

What makes "a peculiar time" different from "a particular time"?

"A particular time" refers to a specific point in time, whereas "a peculiar time" describes a period characterized by unusual or strange circumstances.

Is "a peculiar time" formal or informal?

"A peculiar time" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's generally more suitable for descriptive or narrative writing rather than highly technical or business communication.