a very curious thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very curious thing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that evokes interest or intrigue. Example: "It was a very curious thing to find an old letter hidden in the attic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

This Alice thought a very curious thing.

The New York Times

"It's certainly a very curious thing," Dr. Moore said.

The New York Times - Science

That was a very curious thing about Warhol: he drained the juice out of any sort of existential confrontation.

The New Yorker

When, in the book, the children first hear someone say, mysteriously, "Aslan is on the move", he writes: "Now a very curious thing happened.

The Guardian - Books

The Mr Robot premiere is a very curious thing indeed, because while it's not what you would imagine a season two debut should look like, it's even better than you could hope for.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"It's fascinating to come back to after all these years, a very curious thing". The production sees Gill once more join creative forces with the designer Alison Chitty, who has been a long-term collaborator with Mike Leigh and Peter Hall in the past and was resident designer at the National Theatre in London for eight years.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The Indian innings was a very curious affair.

The Guardian - Sport

Geir Lundestad, the committee's executive secretary, said that was "a very curious way of stating things", because only the 65 countries with embassies in Norway were invited.

The Guardian

China has become a very curious case.

The New York Times

"The Dresser" is a very curious work.

The New York Times

It is a very curious design.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a very curious thing" to introduce an observation that is both interesting and somewhat puzzling, setting the stage for further explanation or analysis.

Common error

While acceptable in most situations, avoid overusing "a very curious thing" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated vocabulary to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very curious thing" functions as a nominal phrase, often acting as a subject complement or an introductory element to a statement. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to introduce something that is both interesting and somewhat puzzling.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a very curious thing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to introduce something interesting or puzzling. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. While it is acceptable, it is advisable to opt for more formal vocabulary in academic writing in order to maintain a professional tone. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media, with less common usage in more academic or scientific contexts. Alternatives include "a highly peculiar matter" and "an intriguing situation". When using the phrase, it is best to introduce an observation that is both interesting and somewhat puzzling and sets the stage for further explanation or analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a highly peculiar matter

Emphasizes the strangeness of the thing, using 'peculiar' instead of 'curious' and 'matter' instead of 'thing'.

a remarkably odd occurrence

Highlights the unusual nature, substituting 'curious' with 'odd' and 'thing' with 'occurrence'.

an exceptionally strange phenomenon

Focuses on the unexpected and unusual nature, using 'strange' and 'phenomenon' to convey a similar meaning.

a particularly intriguing situation

Shifts the emphasis to the captivating aspect, replacing 'curious' with 'intriguing' and 'thing' with 'situation'.

a notably bizarre event

Emphasizes the outlandish quality, swapping 'curious' for 'bizarre' and 'thing' for 'event'.

an unusually interesting development

Focuses on the engaging aspect, using 'interesting' instead of 'curious' and 'development' instead of 'thing'.

a decidedly uncommon incident

Highlights the rarity, using 'uncommon' in place of 'curious' and 'incident' instead of 'thing'.

a truly remarkable circumstance

Emphasizes the noteworthiness, replacing 'curious' with 'remarkable' and 'thing' with 'circumstance'.

a surprisingly unexpected turn of events

Highlights the element of surprise, adding 'unexpected' to emphasize the unforeseen nature of the situation.

a rather fascinating case

Shifts the focus to the captivating quality, replacing 'curious' with 'fascinating' and 'thing' with 'case'.

FAQs

What does "a very curious thing" mean?

It's used to describe something that is interesting or strange, prompting further thought or investigation. It indicates that something noteworthy has occurred.

What can I say instead of "a very curious thing"?

You can use alternatives like "a highly peculiar matter", "an intriguing situation", or "a bizarre event" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "a very curious thing" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, it might be better to use more formal alternatives in academic or professional contexts to maintain a sophisticated tone. Consider "a notably interesting development".

How can "a very curious thing" be used in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce an unexpected or puzzling observation. For example, "A very curious thing happened: all the lights went out simultaneously."