a singular work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a singular work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a unique or individual piece of art, literature, or any creative endeavor. Example: "The artist's latest exhibition features a singular work that captures the essence of modern life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"Guernica" was a singular work.

The New York Times

I am hardly alone in rating "The Diary of a Nobody" a singular work of genius.

The New York Times - Books

This is the decisive power of a singular work: a call to action.

Stanford University

The creation of one of modern history's true visionaries, "The Red Book" is a singular work, outside of categorization.

The New York Times - Books

An age in which everyone understands that killing a person destroys a singular work of art, which can never be replicated.

The New Yorker

The result is a singular work with surprises for readers throughout the social sciences, not least those interested in Southeast Asia or colonialism more broadly.

Princeton University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

As to the question of whether people read differently or whether our need for the engagement afforded by 800-page novels has been usurped by television miniseries and dramas I think it is important to remember that many of the long novels of the past that we now approach as a singular works were originally published in serial format.

The Guardian - Books

He created a most singular work, yet one that remains deeply rooted in the community of poets, historians, and philosophers.

SEP

The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, a relatively new arts center known as the MAC, recently concluded a mini-retrospective of the singular work of Valton Tyler, a Texan, for example, and the Valley House Gallery, an older commercial gallery, has a selection of his early and mid-career canvases on view through the summer.

The New York Times - Arts

Set in the Bronx and featuring a nun on the lookout for a miracle, this 1994 story prefigures portions of Mr. DeLillo's 1997 masterwork, "Underworld," but it also stands on its own as a beautifully realized and singular work of fiction.

The New York Times - Books

The characters resolve this for themselves with prickly generosity and an all-round lack of sentiment, bringing this singular work to a finely orchestrated conclusion.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a singular work" when you want to emphasize the uniqueness, distinctiveness, or exceptional quality of a piece of art, literature, or any other creative endeavor. It implies that the work stands out from others in its category.

Common error

Avoid using "a singular work" in overly casual or informal conversations. The phrase carries a certain formality, so it might sound out of place in everyday speech. Opt for simpler alternatives like "a unique piece" or "a special creation" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a singular work" typically functions as a noun phrase, where "singular" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "work". As Ludwig AI shows, it emphasizes the uniqueness and distinctiveness of the referenced piece.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

32%

Science

13%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a singular work" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a unique or exceptional piece of art, literature, or any creative endeavor. Ludwig AI analysis indicates its use is appropriate in neutral to formal registers, with primary contexts in News & Media and Academia. When choosing this phrase, emphasize the distinctive quality of the work. Alternative phrases like "a unique piece" or "an exceptional creation" can provide similar meaning with varying degrees of emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a unique piece

Replaces "work" with "piece" and "singular" with "unique", emphasizing the one-of-a-kind nature.

an exceptional creation

Substitutes "singular" with "exceptional" and "work" with "creation", highlighting the superior quality of the work.

a remarkable achievement

Focuses on the accomplishment aspect of the work, using "remarkable" to convey its outstanding quality.

an extraordinary endeavor

Replaces "work" with "endeavor", suggesting a significant undertaking that is also unusual.

a distinctive item

Uses "distinctive" to emphasize the characteristic or feature that makes it easily recognizable as different from something else.

an unparalleled masterpiece

Combines "unparalleled" and "masterpiece" to denote something of supreme artistic merit that has no equal.

a one-of-a-kind project

Emphasizes the uniqueness of the "project", implying it is unlike anything else.

a special creation

A more general way to indicate that the work is valued or cherished

an unusual piece

Suggests that the work deviates from the norm in some notable way.

an individual contribution

Highlights the personal aspect and the impact of the work.

FAQs

How can I use "a singular work" in a sentence?

Use "a singular work" to describe something that is unique, exceptional, or stands out in its category. For example, "Picasso's 'Guernica' is "a singular work" of art that captures the horrors of war".

What can I say instead of "a singular work"?

You can use alternatives like "a unique piece", "an exceptional creation", or "a remarkable achievement" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "a very singular work"?

While "singular" already implies uniqueness, using "very" can add emphasis, although it might be considered slightly redundant by some. It depends on the desired level of emphasis and the overall tone of your writing. Using alternatives like "a truly unique piece" might be more effective.

In what contexts is "a singular work" most appropriate?

"A singular work" is often used in art criticism, literary analysis, and academic discussions to describe pieces that are considered particularly noteworthy or innovative. It's also appropriate in formal writing and presentations where you want to highlight the exceptional nature of something.