a very unique situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very unique situation" is commonly used in written English, but it is considered redundant since "unique" means one of a kind.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the distinctiveness of a particular situation, although it may be better to avoid the "very" for clarity. Example: "The pandemic created a very unique situation for businesses, forcing them to adapt quickly to new challenges."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"This is a very unique situation," Asmussen said.

The New York Times - Sports

But she said, "It's a very unique situation for a very unique person".

The New York Times

"I think the starters have gotten the win in all seven of the games, which is a very unique situation," Mussina said, accurately.

The New York Times - Sports

"This is a very unique situation in which you have many unions with a long history of social unionism that have not endorsed Carl McCall," Mr. Cantor said.

The New York Times

Swansea is a very unique situation because the trust are part-owners of the club and we've got a director on the board.

The Guardian - Sport

If this model works this time, he said — and it's still unclear whether it will — it will probably be largely because the political events surrounding its release amounted to "a very unique situation".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

It's still a very unique place".

The New York Times - Sports

But don't confuse information with the real work of figuring out how it applies to your very unique situation.

The New York Times

Although human pregnancy displays many analogous features to allograft transplantation, it also poses a very unique biological situation because the fetus is another host with isolated circulation from the mother.

Plosone

In my father's family there was a lot of troubled uncles and aunts and people we were not allowed to know – very unique situations".

Independent

"That's only in very unique situations, where you have to get to Montana to test someone and we have to know the player is going to be there.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "very unique" with a stronger single word, such as "exceptional", "unprecedented", or "singular", to enhance the impact and precision of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "very" with adjectives that are already absolute, like "unique". While grammatically acceptable, it can weaken your writing. Instead, seek a more impactful synonym or rephrase the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very unique situation" functions primarily as a descriptor, characterizing a particular set of circumstances. Despite Ludwig AI's note that "unique" ideally shouldn't be modified, the examples show it often describes events or conditions in news and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a very unique situation" is commonly used to describe circumstances that are distinct or unusual. While Ludwig AI suggests it's technically redundant because "unique" already means one-of-a-kind, the phrase appears frequently, especially in news and media. For clearer and more impactful writing, consider replacing "very unique" with stronger synonyms such as "exceptional", "unprecedented", or "singular". Be mindful of overusing "very" with absolute adjectives. Despite potential redundancy, its prevalence ensures the phrase remains acceptable in many contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a highly unusual circumstance

Replaces 'unique situation' with 'unusual circumstance' and adds 'highly' for emphasis, suggesting a notable deviation from the norm.

a remarkably distinct case

Substitutes 'unique situation' with 'distinct case' and 'very' with 'remarkably', indicating a notable difference.

an exceptionally rare event

Replaces the phrase with 'rare event', emphasizing the infrequency of the occurrence and adds 'exceptionally'.

a one-of-a-kind scenario

Uses idiomatic expression for uniqueness, replacing 'situation' with 'scenario'.

an unprecedented set of circumstances

Highlights the lack of prior occurrences similar to the situation and replaces the word 'very'.

a particularly singular instance

Replaces 'unique' with 'singular' and 'situation' with 'instance', adding 'particularly' for emphasis.

a truly exceptional state of affairs

Replaces 'unique situation' with a more formal 'exceptional state of affairs' and 'very' with 'truly'.

a notably uncommon occurrence

Emphasizes the rarity of the situation by using 'uncommon occurrence' and modifying it with 'notably'.

a decidedly atypical case

Highlights the deviation from the norm, using 'atypical case' in place of 'unique situation'.

an infrequent confluence of events

Focuses on the combination of events being rare, replacing 'situation' with 'confluence of events'.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "a very unique situation"?

While commonly used, saying "a very unique situation" is often considered redundant since "unique" already implies being one-of-a-kind. It's generally more effective to say "a unique situation" or use stronger synonyms.

What are some alternatives to "a very unique situation"?

You can use alternatives like "an unusual situation", "a distinct case", or "an exceptional circumstance" depending on the context.

How can I emphasize the uniqueness of a situation without using "very unique"?

Instead of saying "very unique", use adjectives like "singular", "exceptional", or "unprecedented". For example, you could describe it as "an unprecedented situation".

What's the difference between "a unique situation" and "a very unique situation"?

The phrase "a unique situation" implies that the situation is one-of-a-kind. Adding "very" doesn't change the core meaning, but can be perceived as redundant. Using stronger, more descriptive words can be more impactful.