absolutely unusual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely unusual" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the degree of unusualness of something, often in a context where you want to highlight how rare or unexpected it is. Example: "The weather this winter has been absolutely unusual, with temperatures soaring to record highs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In Bangladesh that is absolutely unusual, especially in upper-class circles.

The Guardian

It's an absolutely unusual portrayal of Saint-Exupéry especially as he was said to be ill and depressed at the time," said Ms Parent.

The Guardian

"They're absolutely unusual," said Bob Baker, the former publisher of H & S Media, who recalled that Devin brought along his mother for the first meeting with an executive from the company, which publishes teen glossies like Wow and Hot.

The New York Times - Arts

By Roger Angell The New Yorker, April 24 , 1971P. 31 Letter from a friend: "I don't know about you, but what happened to me for several mornings last week while I read the newspapers was so absolutely unusual that for a while I almost didn't recognize it... What I mean is coming on something on the front page of the "Times" & following it on the TV news... Being surprised.

The New Yorker

Primary extrahepatic manifestation of AE seems to be absolutely unusual and extremely rare.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

For his part, George Burgess, director of the international shark attack file at the University of Florida, says that absolutely nothing unusual is going on -- except that perhaps sharks have lost their celebrity status.

The New York Times

"It is on record that some 70%-plus of directors of children's services chaired their local safeguarding children boards and if you look at London, I'm told at the time of Baby P's death only seven of the 32 local authorities had an independent chair … So yes I chaired it and there's absolutely nothing unusual about that anywhere in the country".

The Guardian

There's absolutely nothing unusual about it," he claimed.

Huffington Post

"It's absolutely appropriate and unusual to say the least for a university museum to be even talking about opening itself up to the public," he said.

The New York Times

"Absolutely, this is unusual, he does not act like he is 16," said Edoardo Molinari, an Italian professional who was in the gallery last week when Manassero played the United States Amateur champion Byeong-Hun An, 18, in the Georgia Cup.

The New York Times - Sports

We often experience that people expect something absolutely different, something very unusual or even strange when the conversation turns to biodynamic agriculture.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely unusual" to emphasize a significant deviation from the norm, ensuring the context clearly establishes the expected baseline for comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "absolutely unusual" for slightly odd or uncommon situations. Reserve it for instances that genuinely defy expectations and are exceptionally rare. Overusing it dilutes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely unusual" functions as an intensifier + adjective, modifying a noun to emphasize its exceptional nature. Ludwig provides examples showing its usage in diverse contexts, from describing unusual portrayals to rare medical manifestations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "absolutely unusual" is a grammatically correct intensifier + adjective construction used to emphasize how much something deviates from what is expected or common. Though relatively rare in occurrence, as noted by Ludwig, it appears across diverse contexts such as news, scientific literature, and academic discourse. Given its function, it is most suitable when highlighting significant deviations from the norm. Common errors involve overuse in situations that aren't truly exceptional. Ludwig AI confirms the acceptability of the phrase and provides varied examples of how it is used in practice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely exceptional

Like QUERY, but replaces unusual with exceptional.

entirely uncommon

Focuses on the rarity and infrequency of something.

completely atypical

Emphasizes deviation from the norm; highlights the non-typical nature.

unquestionably rare

Highlights the scarcity and lack of doubt about it.

wholly extraordinary

Stresses the remarkable and outstanding quality.

totally out of the ordinary

Indicates a departure from the usual or expected.

utterly exceptional

Highlights the uniqueness and superiority of something.

truly remarkable

Conveys a sense of wonder and significance.

uncommonly strange

Emphasizes the strangeness exceeding the common level.

unusually peculiar

Highlights the peculiarity more than usual.

FAQs

How can I use "absolutely unusual" in a sentence?

Use "absolutely unusual" to describe something that deviates significantly from the norm. For instance, "The bird's plumage was absolutely unusual, featuring colors not typically seen in this species."

What are some alternatives to "absolutely unusual"?

You can use alternatives like "completely atypical", "entirely uncommon", or "wholly extraordinary" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "unusual" and "absolutely unusual"?

"Unusual" indicates something uncommon, while "absolutely unusual" emphasizes that it's exceptionally rare or unexpected, intensifying the degree of deviation from the norm.

In what contexts is "absolutely unusual" most appropriately used?

The phrase "absolutely unusual" is most appropriate in contexts where you want to highlight the extreme rarity or unexpectedness of something, such as describing a scientific anomaly or a surprising turn of events.