a specific circumstance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a specific circumstance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a particular situation or condition that is distinct from others. Example: "In a specific circumstance, the rules may be adjusted to accommodate individual needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

This was, he claimed, simply a tactical choice, a juggling of resources to suit a certain opponent and a specific circumstance.

The New York Times - Sports

We realize that recent announcements about a specific circumstance may appear to be at odds with these statements and want to take this opportunity to provide clarification.

Yale University

But we tend to forget this whenever the conversation turns to a specific circumstance – the intervention in one war instead of another, or the way we choose to respond to a humanitarian crisis abroad.

The Guardian - Books

Based on the combined modeling and experimental approach, fundamental understanding of multiphase processes in a specific circumstance is achieved under conditions relevant to the actual industrial-scale, such as transport phenomena, flow patterns, fluid dynamics and interactions between phases.

International Journal of Multiphase Flow

"Gratitude arises from a specific circumstance — being given a gift or done a favor — but depends less upon that," Ms. Visser writes, "than on the receiver's whole life, her character, upbringing, maturity, experience, relationships with others, and also on her ideals, including her idea of the sort of person she is or would like to be".

The New York Times - Books

The last one is a general emotion occurring in a specific circumstance (Duffy et al., 2012; Khan et al., 2014).

Frontiers of Business Research in China

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"I don't think people quite understand how incredibly narrow patents are; they will be for a specific extract of cannabis for a specific condition under specific circumstances".

Vice

Some of the packages are tied to a more specific circumstance.

TechCrunch

Your lover has been living in your house for over ten months". The above scenarios are just two situations in which the availability of cell tower location data could be very persuasive in a very specific circumstance.

HuffPost

Nevertheless, when indicating the cause of death, the forensic examiner simply wrote the word "violent". Salvadoran legislators are considering a bill that would legalize abortion in a few specific circumstances, such as when pregnancy endangers a woman's life.

Los Angeles Times

Whilst conventional approach in structural design is based on reliability-calibrated factored design formula, performance-based design customizes a solution to the specific circumstance.

Advances in Engineering Software

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a specific circumstance" to clearly indicate that you are referring to one particular situation, not a general trend or multiple instances.

Common error

Avoid drawing broad conclusions based solely on "a specific circumstance". Ensure that any generalizations are supported by a wider range of evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a specific circumstance" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a preposition (e.g., 'in a specific circumstance') or as a subject complement. It denotes a particular situation or condition, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a specific circumstance" is a versatile noun phrase used to denote a particular situation or condition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and applicability across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Academia. While alternatives like "a particular situation" or "a certain condition" exist, "a specific circumstance" often implies a greater level of precision. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid overgeneralizing from the limited instance and to ensure that any broader claims are supported by additional evidence. Remember that the phrase invites tailored action rather than broad generalizations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a particular situation

Replaces "circumstance" with "situation", offering a more general alternative.

a certain condition

Substitutes "specific circumstance" with "certain condition", emphasizing a particular state of affairs.

a unique case

Uses "unique case" instead of "specific circumstance", highlighting the distinct nature of the situation.

a special occasion

Replaces with "special occasion", implying a noteworthy event or situation.

an individual instance

Emphasizes the singularity of the event.

a precise context

Focuses on the specific setting or background influencing the situation.

a defined scenario

Highlights the detailed and well-defined nature of the circumstance.

a given event

Refers to an occurrence that is already established or understood.

a distinct reality

Emphasizes the uniqueness and tangibility of the circumstance.

a singular development

Points to a unique unfolding of events.

FAQs

How can I use "a specific circumstance" in a sentence?

You can use "a specific circumstance" to refer to a particular situation or condition. For example, "The rules may be adjusted in "a specific circumstance" to accommodate individual needs".

What are some alternatives to "a specific circumstance"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "a particular situation", "a certain condition", or "a unique case".

Is it better to use "a specific circumstance" or "a particular circumstance"?

"A specific circumstance" and "a particular circumstance" are often interchangeable. However, "a specific circumstance" may imply a greater level of detail or precision than "a particular circumstance".

When should I use "a specific circumstance" instead of "a general rule"?

Use "a specific circumstance" when you want to highlight an exception to a general rule or when describing a situation that requires individualized consideration. A general rule applies broadly, while "a specific circumstance" requires tailored action.