an anomaly of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an anomaly of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that deviates from the norm or expected pattern in a specific context. Example: "The scientist discovered an anomaly of temperature readings that suggested a malfunction in the equipment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was an anomaly of nature.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's just an anomaly of the laboratory test," he said.

The New York Times

Minimum air temperatures registered an anomaly of 1.3 degree Celsius, with the maximum at 1.8 degrees.

The Guardian

The 1% and the 99% enshrined by Occupy are not an anomaly of our time, Piketty's research suggests.

The Guardian - Money

His thick athlete's brow slowly furrowed, as if he were studying a creature he didn't entirely understand, an anomaly of some kind, which perhaps I was.

The New Yorker

"There was some sort of a national tidal wave that Minnesota was not an anomaly of, we were part of," said Mike Erlandson, the state Democratic chairman.

The New York Times

In many ways, Europe's work habits are an anomaly of the postwar era -- a product of the happy confluence of peace, new technologies and a youthful population.

The New York Times

The N.B.A.'s Sixth Man of the Year in 2000, a multimillionaire, Rogers worked for middle-class pay, an anomaly of his time.

The New York Times - Sports

Weiner, meanwhile, who some thought was an anomaly of pure name recognition, has a far more fervent support: 43% of Weiner's voters say they are strongly behind him.

The Guardian - Opinion

Lucasfilm told the BBC that the court's decision preserved "an anomaly of British copyright law" and that the studio "remains committed to aggressively protecting its intellectual property rights".

The New York Times

Your citation of Schomburg Charter School as an example of this phenomenon is an anomaly; of the 62 schools that received positive ratings, only two had a majority of negative scores.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an anomaly of", ensure the context clearly establishes the norm or expected pattern from which the anomaly deviates. This provides a stronger foundation for understanding the deviation.

Common error

Avoid using "an anomaly of" when simply describing something unusual without a clear reference to a specific norm or expected behavior. Instead, use more general terms like "unusual" or "rare" if a specific baseline isn't established.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an anomaly of" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase. It indicates that something is a deviation or exception from a general rule, norm, or expected pattern, as demonstrated by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an anomaly of" is a prepositional phrase used to describe something that deviates from the norm or expected pattern. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While it can be used in formal and informal contexts, it's important to ensure the context clearly establishes the norm from which the anomaly deviates. Remember to avoid overuse in general statements without a clear reference point, and consider alternatives such as "a deviation from" or "an exception to" for nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a deviation from

Indicates a departure from a standard or norm, focusing on the act of straying away.

an exception to

Highlights that something does not follow the general rule, emphasizing its uniqueness.

an irregularity in

Suggests something is not consistent or uniform, pointing to an unusual occurrence.

a departure from the norm

Emphasizes a shift away from what is typical or expected, highlighting the contrast.

an aberration of

Implies a deviation from the correct or expected course, often with negative connotations.

an oddity within

Focuses on the strange or peculiar nature of something within a larger system.

a peculiarity of

Highlights a distinctive or unusual feature, emphasizing its uniqueness.

a quirk in

Refers to a minor or unusual characteristic, often seen as charming or interesting.

a divergence from

Suggests a separation or branching off from a common path or standard.

a rarity in

Indicates that something is uncommon or infrequent, emphasizing its scarcity.

FAQs

How can I use "an anomaly of" in a sentence?

Use "an anomaly of" to describe something that deviates from the expected or normal within a specific context. For example, "The unexpected test score was "an anomaly of" the student's usual performance".

What can I say instead of "an anomaly of"?

You can use alternatives like "a deviation from", "an exception to", or "an irregularity in" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "anomaly of" or "anomaly in"?

While both can be grammatically correct, "an anomaly of" is typically used when describing something as a deviation from a larger system or norm. "Anomaly in" may be used to indicate the location of the anomaly such as "an anomaly in the data".

What's the difference between "an anomaly of" and "a characteristic of"?

"An anomaly of" describes something that deviates from the norm, while "a characteristic of" describes a typical feature or attribute. For example, a sudden price surge could be ""an anomaly of" the market", while stability might be "a characteristic of it".