a singular feature of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a singular feature of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a unique or distinctive characteristic of something. Example: "The museum's collection includes a singular feature of ancient artifacts that sets it apart from other institutions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Because the party-expenditure provision is a singular feature of campaign law, the case, Federal Election Commission v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee, No. 00-191, may not be one to draw the court into a broad review of campaign finance in general.

The New York Times

The expanded 7 gene A3 locus is, for the moment, a singular feature of macaque, chimpanzee and human genomes.

Plosone

Theta band desynchronisation during motor imagination was a singular feature of patients with CNP.

Clinical Neurophysiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The resulting diagnostic is a function of the residual and leverage, as other diagnostics in regression models, and of the calibration weight, a singular feature in survey sampling.

Computational Statistics & Data Analysis

The singular feature of Einstein's view of gravity is its geometric nature.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The shocking fragility of recently issued debt is another singular feature of the 2007 downturn — alarming numbers of defaults despite high employment and reasonably strong economic growth.

The New York Times

That steep rise, which is consistent through all segments of American society and which continued unabated through the 1990's, is the singular feature of the epidemic.

The New York Times - Magazine

He quoted two passages from memory: "The singular feature of the Great Crash of 1929 was that the worst continued to worsen"; and "The autumn of 1929 was, perhaps, the first occasion when men succeeded on a large scale in swindling themselves".

The New Yorker

The singular feature of Walt Spangler's grandly scaled set for the production, directed by Robert Falls and also starring Brian Dennehy as the third point in a love triangle, is a massive pile of stones that turns the Goodman stage into a giant quarry.

The New York Times

These findings suggest that this singular feature of the language of certain children with visual impairment is, under natural conditions, probably maintained by the attention provided by their caregivers.

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

Today, design patents are typically applied for and issued covering singular features of a product's design.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a singular feature of", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being distinguished. Provide sufficient detail so the reader understands the importance or uniqueness of the feature.

Common error

Avoid using "a singular feature of" when the characteristic is not truly unique. Ensure thorough research confirms the feature's rarity before using this phrase to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a singular feature of" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an appositive. It identifies and emphasizes a specific, unique characteristic of something. Ludwig confirms this with real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a singular feature of" is a phrase used to emphasize a unique or distinctive characteristic. Ludwig's analysis shows it is grammatically correct and usable, though relatively rare in occurrence. The phrase is appropriate for neutral to formal contexts, appearing across news, science, and encyclopedia sources. While it effectively highlights uniqueness, it's crucial to ensure the described feature is indeed rare to maintain accuracy. Related phrases like "a distinctive attribute of" or "a unique aspect of" can offer alternative ways to express this idea with subtle variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a defining characteristic of

Indicates a feature that is essential in identifying something.

a distinguishing mark of

Highlights a feature that differentiates something from others.

a distinctive attribute of

Emphasizes a specific characteristic that sets something apart.

a unique aspect of

Highlights a particular facet that is not common.

a characteristic trait of

Focuses on an inherent quality or feature.

an exclusive feature of

Implies that the feature is not found elsewhere.

a peculiar quality of

Suggests an odd or unusual characteristic.

a stand-out quality of

Emphasizes that the quality is particularly noticeable or impressive.

a notable element of

Draws attention to a significant component.

a remarkable attribute of

Suggests that the attribute is worthy of attention.

FAQs

How can I use "a singular feature of" in a sentence?

Use "a singular feature of" to highlight a unique or distinctive aspect. For example, "A singular feature of Einstein's theory is its geometric nature."

What are some alternatives to "a singular feature of"?

You can use alternatives like "a distinctive attribute of", "a unique aspect of", or "a defining characteristic of" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it redundant to use "unique" and "singular" together when describing a feature?

While not strictly incorrect, using both "unique" and "singular" together can be redundant. "Singular" already implies uniqueness, so using only one of these terms is often more concise and effective.

What's the difference between "a singular feature of" and "a key feature of"?

"A singular feature of" emphasizes uniqueness or distinctiveness, while "a key feature of" highlights importance or significance. A key feature might be common, but essential, whereas a singular feature is rare or unique but not necessarily essential.