more unique than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more unique than" is not correct in standard English usage.
"Unique" means one of a kind, so it cannot be compared in degrees. Example: "This painting is more unique than any other in the gallery."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Some will even insist that their own language is "more unique" than any other; but there is no known way of measuring uniqueness, and in any case this claim has been made about too many languages to be taken seriously.

Functional Linguistics

"Even more unique than Ichiro".

The New York Times - Sports

Being more unique than everybody else is also kind of my thing.

The New Yorker

"It's a little more unique than a keychain," Ms. Yoshizu said.

The New York Times

But in some way it seemed more appealing, more unique, than the rest of her.

The New Yorker

He was slightly more unique than the American black actors I'd been looking at for the role".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

"The independent coffee shops offer consumers a more unique experience than one of the chains," she says.

The Guardian

Google sites, including the search engine and YouTube, get more unique visitors than Facebook.

The New York Times - Tech

Quoting an April , 2012 Comscore tally, Gajwani said that their digital ventures, which now employ thirteen hundred people, attract more unique visitors than any other Indian site.

The New Yorker

With Jezebel breaking more stories and garnering more unique visitors than ever before, "Advertisers are no longer treating it as a cute new entrant," Mr. Denton said.

The New York Times

In other words, the Fed has been using more unique concepts than in the previous period.

Computational Social Networks

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While commonly used, consider alternatives like "more distinctive than" or "more exceptional than" for improved grammatical precision. Using these alternatives enhances clarity and avoids potential criticism regarding the absolute nature of "unique".

Common error

Avoid using "more unique than" when the intent is to convey something is simply different or distinctive. Instead, reserve "unique" for truly unparalleled situations. If you use it in comparative, expect grammatical pedants to appear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more unique than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It aims to describe something as being more one-of-a-kind compared to something else. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically questionable due to the inherent meaning of "unique".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "more unique than" is widely used, it is considered grammatically questionable, as flagged by Ludwig AI. The word "unique" inherently means one of a kind, making comparison illogical. Despite its frequent appearance in news, science and Wiki sources, consider using alternatives such as "more distinctive than" or "more exceptional than" for enhanced clarity and grammatical correctness. The frequency of the incorrect usage indicates it's more related with a lack of awareness than with a stylistic choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more distinctive than

Focuses on the distinguishing characteristics that set something apart.

more exceptional than

Highlights the superior quality or rarity of something.

more extraordinary than

Emphasizes an unusual and remarkable quality.

more singular than

Indicates that something is markedly different from others.

more unparalleled than

Stresses that something has no equal or comparison.

more unmatched than

Highlights that something cannot be equaled or surpassed.

more uncommon than

Emphasizes the rarity and infrequency of something.

more rare than

Focuses on the scarcity of something.

more special than

Highlights something as distinct and cherished.

more peculiar than

Indicates something is notably odd or unusual.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "more unique than"?

While commonly used, saying "more unique than" is technically incorrect because "unique" means one of a kind and cannot be compared. Consider using alternatives like "more distinctive than" or "more exceptional than".

What are some alternatives to "more unique than"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "more unique than" with phrases like "more distinctive than", "more exceptional than", or "more uncommon than".

How can I use "more distinctive than" instead of "more unique than"?

Use "more distinctive than" to emphasize the distinguishing characteristics. For example, instead of "This design is more unique than others", say "This design is "more distinctive than" others because of its innovative use of color".

Is there a difference between "more unique than" and "more special than"?

"More unique than" technically implies something is one-of-a-kind to a greater extent, which is grammatically flawed. "More special than" simply means something is more valued or cherished compared to something else and it's grammatically "correct".