obscure course

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obscure course" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a path or direction that is not well-known or difficult to understand. Example: "The hikers decided to take an obscure course through the forest, hoping to discover hidden trails."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Maybe by professing my appetite for such a charmingly obscure course of study, I could win over the admissions officers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She studied in Spain, London and Paris and signed up for obscure courses outside her education major.

The Washington Post

As well as conventional studies like economics or law in the US or the UK, you could – in theory – also apply for slightly more obscure courses such as coastal and marine management in Iceland, personal shopping and image consulting in Milan or theater in Brazil.

TechCrunch

Obscure, of course – delightfully warm, naturally; it underlines Sparks' greatness and importance".

Wikipedia

Writing 2400 hundred years later, the great American Romantic poet Emerson told us that "fiction reveals truth that reality obscures". Of course.

Forbes

Obscured, of course, are little facts like the company's war against California's pioneering alternative energy development fund (Prop 87), its refusal to cleanup the oily mess its made in the Amazon, and its refusal to take pragmatic steps to deploy ethanol at its service stations.

Huffington Post

Here, note the monochrome stripes, subtly tapered fit, the low-slung V of the collar and, of course, obscure Italian sponsor.

The Guardian - Sport

Clinical and laboratory criteria are as follows: obscure onset, chronic course, absence of edema, and normochromic anemia in the more advanced phases.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Clinical and laboratory criteria are a follows: obscure onset, chronic course, no sense of edema, and normochromic type of anemia in more advanced phases.

BMC Nephrology

Symmetry in responses to Eff and Ineff morphs is not preordained, however: subtracting the response to Ineff images from the response to Eff images might obscure the time course of the separate responses to Eff and to Ineff images.

Cerebral Cortex

Simply adding a 2-fold excess of Ft into our current model has only a moderate effect on cellular asymmetry measured in terms of bound Ft and Ds (however the "excess" unbound Ft does of course obscure observation of the bound fraction at junctions, hence the need to measure it using FRAP).

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a course, consider the audience. Use "obscure course" when the lack of general knowledge about the subject is relevant to your point.

Common error

Avoid using "obscure course" in highly formal or professional settings where direct and easily understood language is preferred. Instead, opt for phrases like "specialized program" or "niche curriculum" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obscure course" functions as a noun phrase where "obscure" modifies "course". According to Ludwig, it describes a course of study that is not well-known or easily understood. The adjective "obscure" indicates that the course is not mainstream or widely recognized.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "obscure course" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a course of study that is not widely known or commonly pursued. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to categorize and identify a unique or uncommon academic program. While its usage isn't frequent, it appears across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Wiki, with a neutral register that makes it suitable for diverse audiences. When writing, remember to consider your audience and choose alternative phrases like "specialized program" or "niche curriculum" in more formal settings. Avoid overuse of "obscure course" in situations demanding immediate clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uncommon class

Replaces "obscure" with "uncommon" and "course" with "class", focusing on the rarity of the course.

esoteric subject

Substitutes both words with synonyms that emphasize the specialized and less accessible nature of the course.

niche curriculum

Highlights the specialized and targeted nature of the course's content.

specialized study

Focuses on the particular and in-depth nature of the study area.

unconventional program

Emphasizes the departure from standard educational paths.

rare study

Highlights the infrequency with which this course of study is undertaken.

unfamiliar discipline

Shifts the focus to the unfamiliarity of the academic discipline itself.

lesser-known field of study

Expands on the lack of widespread recognition of the course.

out-of-the-way subject

Implies that the course is not easily accessible or commonly pursued.

recondite learning path

Uses a more formal tone to suggest deeply hidden or complex knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "obscure course" in a sentence?

You might say, "She decided to enroll in an "obscure course" on ancient Sumerian cuneiform" or "The university offered a surprisingly "obscure course" on the history of cheese making".

What does "obscure course" mean?

It refers to a class or academic program that is not widely known, understood, or commonly chosen by students.

Are there alternatives to saying "obscure course"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use phrases like "uncommon class", "esoteric subject", or "niche curriculum".

Is "obscure course" formal or informal?

It's generally considered neutral, suitable for both academic and informal writing, but might be replaced by a more precise term in highly formal contexts.