distinctive to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "distinctive to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is unique or characteristic of a particular person, group, or thing. Example: "The design of the building is distinctive to the architectural style of the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost all the singers brought something personal and distinctive to their roles.

The New York Times - Arts

The dual is distinctive to Arabic and a few other languages.

The Economist

The abnormalities, now known as plaques and tangles, are thought to be distinctive to Alzheimer's disease.

The New York Times

The high rate of re-election for state legislators is not distinctive to New York.

The New York Times

Accordingly, DuPrau doesn't lavish inordinate energy on imagining details distinctive to the sunless City of Ember.

The New York Times - Books

If we do that, we don't have anything distinctive to say to people about God.

The Guardian - Opinion

Does Isuzu, with this vehicle and its others, bring anything distinctive to the party?

The New York Times

Talking in the relatively anonymous House of St Barnabas in London's Soho rather than Ofcom's riverside headquarters, White says: "What's distinctive to you may not be distinctive to me or the 65 million people living in the UK.

The Guardian

But the characters are not sufficiently distinctive to make them interesting or to lend pathos to their anguish.

The New York Times

The tension between the universal and the particular that you can find here may even be distinctive to Jewish modernity.

The New York Times - Arts

In the late 1960s and 1970s it became fashionable to give children names distinctive to their race.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "distinctive to" when you want to emphasize that a particular feature, trait, or characteristic is uniquely associated with a specific entity or category. It is best suited when describing something that sets it apart from others.

Common error

Avoid using "distinctive to" when you intend to describe something that is simply common or prevalent within a group, rather than uniquely defining it. "Common in" or "typical of" may be more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distinctive to" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition. It is used to attribute a quality or characteristic uniquely to a specific entity, group, or phenomenon. Ludwig confirms the common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "distinctive to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as validated by Ludwig. It serves to highlight a quality or characteristic that is uniquely associated with a particular entity, setting it apart from others. Commonly found in news, scientific, and encyclopedia sources, it conveys specificity and precision. Ludwig's analysis indicates that while alternatives like ""unique to"" or "characteristic of" exist, "distinctive to" effectively emphasizes uniqueness and can be confidently used across various formal and informal contexts. Its high frequency and authoritative source usage confirm its acceptability and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unique to

Indicates something is exclusively associated with a specific entity.

characteristic of

Emphasizes typical or representative qualities of something.

peculiar to

Suggests something is unusual or specific to a particular context.

exclusive to

Highlights that something is only available or applicable to a certain group.

inherent in

Implies that something is an essential part of the nature of something.

typical of

Denotes a pattern or trait commonly found in a specific category.

endemic to

Refers to something that is naturally found or restricted to a specific place.

belonging to

Indicates ownership or association with a specific entity.

identifiable with

Highlights the capacity of something to be recognized in particular association.

attributable to

Suggests that something can be ascribed or credited to a particular cause or origin.

FAQs

How can I use "distinctive to" in a sentence?

Use "distinctive to" to highlight a unique feature or characteristic of something. For example, "The dialect is "unique to" that region", showing a characteristic specific to that area.

What are some alternatives to "distinctive to"?

You can use alternatives like ""unique to"", "characteristic of", or "peculiar to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "distinctive to" or "distinctive of"?

"Distinctive to" indicates something is unique to a specific entity, while "distinctive of" suggests something is representative or typical of that entity. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "distinctive to" and "specific to"?

While both indicate a close association, "distinctive to" implies a unique or characteristic connection, whereas "specific to" simply means that something is particularly related to a certain thing, but not necessarily uniquely so.