a unique instance of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a unique instance of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a specific occurrence or example that is one-of-a-kind or distinct in some way. Example: "This painting is a unique instance of modern art that challenges traditional boundaries."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

For this assignment, I wanted to find a unique instance of a thoughtless act.

University of California, Berkeley

The result was a vigorous French Catholic movement, the Confédération des Travailleurs Catholiques du Canada, which stands as a unique instance of confessional unionism in North America.

Britannica

In interviews, Ponsot has mentioned her Catholic faith, and she pays homage to the Catholic Hopkins, who endeavored (as she does) to see in each plant, each animal, each sort of weather, a unique instance of Providence: "Loft him Halo him / Prize him high, pen in hand," she tells Hopkins ("him" is God).

The New York Times - Books

However, "I syng of a mayden" is a unique instance of this lyric.

Wikipedia

Boesch (1991) reports a unique instance of such simple symbolic signals in wild chimpanzees.

Human Nature

The evolutionary history of the ALOG domain represents a unique instance of a domain, otherwise exclusively found in retroelements, being recruited as a specific transcription factor in the streptophyte lineage of plants.

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Written by Chou Tanding andirecteded by Tsai Chu-SheNew "NeWoman --a-a unique instance of art imitating life and life in turn imitating art--Woman --ared by the 1934 suicide of actress Ai Hsiao: The same kind of scandal sheets that drive Ruan's heroine to take her oWoman --aauniqueuan to do the same.

Los Angeles Times

In this case study of an unique instance, effects of medium-energy, high-focused extracorporeal generated shock waves (ESW) onto the skin and the underlying fat tissue of a cellulite afflicted, 50-year-old woman were investigated.

Clinical interventions in aging

The existence of the two divergent haplotypes in the Satsop River, as well as the three that are associated with other Pacific Northwestern lineages suggests that the Chehalis River Valley may have been invaded by R. b. balteatus individuals from other areas, representing a unique instance where rather than expansion out of a Pleistocene refugium, the refugium may have been invaded instead.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The park is a unique example of an area that was overused in this instance by mountain farmers and was allowed to return to its natural state.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fitzgerald found several nearly unique instances of language usage — a preference for pompous vocabulary such as "dubiety," "redoubt," and other ponderous phrasings.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a unique instance of" to emphasize the exceptional or one-of-a-kind nature of a particular event, example, or case. This phrase is most effective when highlighting something that deviates significantly from the norm.

Common error

Avoid using "a unique instance of" when describing something that is merely uncommon or unusual, but not genuinely one-of-a-kind. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a unique instance of" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a noun phrase. It identifies a specific occurrence or example that is distinct and unparalleled. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

29%

News & Media

21%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

14%

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a unique instance of" is a grammatically sound and useful way to emphasize the exceptional or one-of-a-kind nature of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is correct and well-suited for formal, scientific, and academic writing. While not exceedingly common, its usage is consistent across diverse contexts such as science, news, and academia. Remember to reserve this phrase for truly unique situations to maintain its impact and avoid redundancy. Consider alternatives like "a rare occurrence of" or "an exceptional case of" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a singular example of

Replaces "unique instance" with "singular example", focusing on the distinctiveness of the example.

an exceptional case of

Substitutes "unique instance" with "exceptional case", highlighting the unusual nature of the situation.

a distinctive illustration of

Substitutes "unique instance" with "distinctive illustration", focusing on the clarity and uniqueness of the illustration.

an isolated incidence of

Replaces "unique instance" with "isolated incidence", focusing on the singularity and lack of recurrence.

a rare occurrence of

Replaces "unique instance" with "rare occurrence", emphasizing infrequency.

a remarkable exhibition of

Uses "remarkable exhibition" instead of "unique instance", emphasizing the noteworthy nature of the exhibition.

an unprecedented event of

Uses "unprecedented event" instead of "unique instance", stressing the lack of prior similar events.

an unparalleled manifestation of

Replaces "unique instance" with "unparalleled manifestation", highlighting the exceptional and unmatched quality.

a one-of-a-kind demonstration of

Replaces "unique instance" with "one-of-a-kind demonstration", emphasizing the unparalleled nature of the demonstration.

a special occurrence of

Substitutes "unique instance" with "special occurrence", indicating something noteworthy but not necessarily unprecedented.

FAQs

How can I use "a unique instance of" in a sentence?

Use "a unique instance of" to describe something that is exceptional and without parallel. For example, "This discovery is a unique instance of scientific breakthrough in the field of medicine."

What are some alternatives to "a unique instance of"?

You can use alternatives like "a rare occurrence of", "an exceptional case of", or "a singular example of" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "a very unique instance of"?

Yes, using "very" with "unique" is generally considered redundant because "unique" already means one-of-a-kind. Therefore, "a unique instance of" is sufficient.

What's the difference between "a unique instance of" and "a typical instance of"?

"A unique instance of" highlights something exceptional and unusual, while "a typical instance of" refers to something that is representative and common. They are opposites in meaning.