a unique document

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unique document" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a document that is one of a kind or has distinct characteristics that set it apart from others. Example: "The museum displayed a unique document that detailed the founding of the city, attracting historians and visitors alike."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The circumstances of their destruction preserved their remains as a unique document of Greco-Roman life.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Stephen Maycock, a consultant specialist in entertainment memorabilia at Bonhams, said the notebook was a unique document.

The Guardian - Music

Mark Lewisohn, a Beatles historian and widely regarded as the world's leading authority on the band, said this weekend: "It's a unique document.

Independent

John Sandage, a State Department lawyer who worked on the document, said, "There was a conscious effort to make this a unique document to respond to a unique problem".

The New York Times

Had Forster not come upon a 1908 edition of her letters and cajoled Virginia and Leonard Woolf into reissuing them, a unique document of juicy 18th-century realism might be lost to us.

The New York Times - Travel

This D major symphony, K297, is a unique document in Mozart's symphonic canon not just for what the three-movement work does musically, but for what it tells us about how Mozart played with his audience's expectations and reactions, how he consciously manipulated them to achieve the biggest possible effect on Paris's most prestigious stage for instrumental music.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The metadata in XML files can be formalized as well-defined common data elements whose definition and usage semantics are explicitly described in an accessible, unique document.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

As a general rule, each unrelated patient should be reported on a separate and unique document, as the reports will ultimately be filed in individual patient or family files (as well as for reasons of confidentiality).

European Journal of Human Genetics

It is recommended that each unrelated patient should be reported in a separate and unique document, as many reports may ultimately be filed in individual patient or family files (for reasons of confidentiality).

European Journal of Human Genetics

All documents need to have unique numbers assigned to them, which is used as a locator in a database and identifies each unique document type.

Developing and Managing Engineering Procedures Concepts and Applications

This turns the modello submitted by Tiepolo before painting the fresco into a unique historical document, since it faithfully reflects the master's intentions unlike the much-altered fresco.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing historical finds or archival materials, use "a unique document" to underscore the artifact's importance as a primary source.

Common error

Avoid overusing "a unique document" to describe something that is merely interesting or unusual, but not truly one-of-a-kind. Ensure the document genuinely possesses characteristics that distinguish it significantly from others in its category.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unique document" functions as a noun phrase, where 'unique' modifies 'document', emphasizing its distinctiveness. As Ludwig AI's examples show, this phrase is used to describe items of historical or scientific importance.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a unique document" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe an item with exceptional characteristics. Ludwig AI confirms this. It typically appears in neutral to formal contexts such as news, science, and encyclopedias, emphasizing the document's distinctiveness. While several alternatives exist, such as "an exceptional record" or "a singular record", it's important to ensure that the described document genuinely warrants the 'unique' label. By avoiding overuse and considering its impact, you can effectively use "a unique document" to convey the special nature of particular written or recorded items.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a one-of-a-kind document

Replaces "unique" with the idiomatic phrase "one-of-a-kind", stressing its rarity.

a singular record

Replaces "unique" with "singular", which stresses the document's one-of-a-kind nature, while changing the noun.

an original document

Replaces "unique" with "original" which focuses on its authenticity and being the first of its kind.

an exceptional record

Replaces "unique" with "exceptional" focusing on the high quality and rare nature of the document. Changes the noun.

an unparalleled file

Uses "unparalleled" instead of "unique" to emphasize that no other document compares to it, while changing the noun.

a distinctive file

Substitutes "unique" with "distinctive", highlighting the document's recognizable characteristics, while changing the noun.

a rare manuscript

Substitutes "unique" with "rare" indicating its scarcity and changes the noun.

an individual document

Replaces "unique" with "individual" denoting a distinct and separate document.

an uncommon record

Replaces "unique" with "uncommon", emphasizing that the document is not frequently found while changing the noun.

a special document

Uses "special" instead of "unique" to highlight its importance and particular nature.

FAQs

How can I use "a unique document" in a sentence?

You can use "a unique document" to describe something that is the only one of its kind or has very special characteristics. For example, "The museum displayed "a unique document" detailing the city's history".

What phrases are similar to "a unique document"?

Similar phrases include "an exceptional record", "a distinctive file", or "a singular record", which all emphasize the special and individual nature of the item.

When is it appropriate to describe something as "a unique document"?

It's appropriate when the document has features that set it apart from all others, whether due to its content, origin, or historical significance. It should genuinely be one of a kind, not just somewhat unusual.

Is there a more formal way to say "a unique document"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "an unparalleled file" or "an original document". These options emphasize the document's distinctiveness in a more elevated tone.