obscure items

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obscure items" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to items that are not well-known, difficult to find, or not easily understood. Example: "The antique shop specializes in selling obscure items that are rarely found in mainstream stores."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Yet the Web can be very useful for finding obscure items.

The New York Times - Tech

The staff is helpful, even a little awestruck at some of the store's more obscure items.

The New York Times

So the Letters drew heavily on personal experiences, conversations with shopkeepers and taxi-drivers or obscure items in the media.

The Guardian

They include Verdi's "Falstaff" and Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde," as well as more obscure items, like Chausson's "Roi Arthus," Rachmaninoff's "Francesca da Rimini" and Delius's "Koanga".

The New York Times - Arts

So the Letters drew heavily on his personal experiences, his family and friends, conversations with shopkeepers and taxi-drivers or obscure items in the American media.

The Guardian

CLEARLY, the smart thing to do before listing various obscure items on eBay last week would have been to take my friend Dana's advice.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

An obscure item in Newt Gingrich's Contract with America became the highlight of Connaughton's tenure in the White House.

The New Yorker

Our interpretation for this effect is that high levels of gamma power in the positively contributing ("informative") electrodes obscure item-specific spatial patterns and thereby reduce reinstatement of information from encoding.

Nature

Buried in the $393 billion defense authorization bill that Congress approved this week was an obscure item that has raised concerns that the administration is gradually moving toward creating new kinds of nuclear weapons.

The New York Times

The site is really designed to get answers on where to get hard to find or obscure items-like what electronic toy is best for a hyperactive two year old.

TechCrunch

You relied on magicians like Faigi to find just the obscure item you needed to nail down a story properly, from hard, upfront news to a tasty item for Page Six.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing collections or inventories, use "obscure items" to highlight the presence of rare or specialized objects that might not be familiar to the average person.

Common error

Avoid using "obscure items" in highly formal or professional documents where precision and clarity are paramount. Opt for more specific and descriptive terms to ensure your meaning is unambiguous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obscure items" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "obscure" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "items". It describes objects or things that are not widely known, recognized, or easily found. As Ludwig AI's analysis confirms, this phrase is correct and readily usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

14%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "obscure items" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe things that are not widely known or easily found. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to categorize and highlight the rarity or specialized nature of objects. While suitable for various registers, it's advisable to avoid overuse in formal writing where more specific language may be preferred. Alternatives include "rare articles" or "uncommon goods", providing nuanced options for expressing similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Uncommon goods

Replaces "items" with "goods" to emphasize merchandise, while "uncommon" maintains the sense of rarity.

Rare articles

Substitutes "items" with "articles", suggesting individual pieces with unique qualities; "rare" highlights scarcity.

Little-known objects

"Objects" is used instead of "items", focusing on physical things, and "little-known" replaces "obscure" to underscore the lack of widespread knowledge.

Esoteric things

Replaces "items" with "things", a more general term; "esoteric" emphasizes specialized or niche knowledge.

Unfamiliar merchandise

"Merchandise" specifies that the items are for sale, while "unfamiliar" suggests a lack of prior acquaintance.

Out-of-the-way commodities

This alternative uses "commodities" to emphasize the tradeable nature, while "out-of-the-way" implies difficulty in finding them.

Seldom-seen artifacts

"Artifacts" implies historical or cultural significance, while "seldom-seen" suggests infrequency of appearance.

Hidden treasures

"Treasures" conveys value and desirability, while "hidden" suggests they are not easily discovered.

Forgotten relics

"Relics" implies age and historical context, while "forgotten" suggests a state of neglect or disuse.

Uncommon collectibles

"Collectibles" specifies items sought after by collectors, while "uncommon" denotes rarity within that category.

FAQs

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

You can use "obscure items" to describe things that are not well-known or easily found. For example: "The museum's collection includes many obscure items from the Victorian era."

What are some alternatives to "obscure items"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "rare articles", "uncommon goods", or "little-known objects".

Is it appropriate to use "obscure items" in academic writing?

Yes, "obscure items" is acceptable in academic writing, especially when describing specific objects or artifacts that are not widely recognized within a particular field of study. However, ensure the context is clear and the term is adequately defined if necessary.

What's the difference between "obscure items" and "esoteric things"?

"Obscure items" generally refers to things that are not well-known or easily found, while "esoteric things" suggests items that are understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge.