peculiar incident

USAGE SUMMARY

"peculiar incident" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe an unusual or strange event that stands out in some way. For example: "The town was abuzz with talk of a peculiar incident that occurred last night." Alternative expressions include "strange occurrence" and "unusual event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Here, perhaps unsurprisingly, those values are those of the conservative gentleman that he was (for many years, he worked as a high-up bank official, until a peculiar incident that led to his resignation).

The Guardian - Books

I felt extremely stupid, but also heartened; this is the sort of peculiar incident – part arthouse prank, part genuine attempt to connect people – that marks Glastonbury out from the rest of the festival field.

The Guardian - Music

'I didn't consider myself in any way well known, and I remember as we were sort of separating being stopped on the tube and asked for my autograph, which was a peculiar incident because I couldn't quite understand under what terms someone would want the signature of someone who hasn't got a canon of work to their name.' There's something almost old-fashioned about this.

The Guardian - Film

We were contacted by a friend about a peculiar incident that happened to her one night while carousing at the exclusive private members' club Shoreditch House.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Tells about other peculiar incidents in the town that did not concern the Indians.

The New Yorker

Following this, a peculiar incident-light-intensity-dependent Brewster angle (θB) is discovered.

Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids

In court papers, the ACS references several peculiar incidents where Ogunbayo sought out medical treatment because she believed her children's skin color was becoming darker due to radiation.

Huffington Post

But one of the most peculiar incidents in U.S. Supreme Court history indicates that Romney may well have been right, constitutionally speaking (Also: Does Romney's business career help his chances?

Huffington Post

A peculiar diplomatic incident last week summed up our powerlessness.

The New Yorker

Ms. Margolin's show "O Yes I Will" was inspired by a peculiar and mildly embarrassing incident that has haunted her since it happened.

The New York Times

In a peculiar twist to the incident, Huxiu actually pulled its Chinese version of Zaagman's piece days leading to the ByteDance suit.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an event as a "peculiar incident", ensure that the context clearly establishes its unusual or strange nature. Use concrete details to illustrate what makes the incident stand out.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "peculiar" to convey the nature of the incident. Instead, provide specific details that make it peculiar. For instance, instead of just saying "a peculiar incident occurred", describe how it was peculiar, what specific details made it so, or how it deviated from the norm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "peculiar incident" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "peculiar" modifies the noun "incident". According to Ludwig, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English and it is used to describe an unusual or strange event.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "peculiar incident" is used to describe an unusual event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While infrequent, it appears primarily in news and media contexts. For alternatives, consider "strange event" or "unusual occurrence". When employing this phrase, be sure to provide specific details about what made the incident peculiar to improve clarity. Overall the phrase is acceptable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strange event

Replaces "peculiar" with "strange", which is a more common synonym, slightly altering the tone.

unusual occurrence

Substitutes both words with near synonyms, making the phrase sound slightly more formal.

odd happening

Replaces "incident" with "happening", creating a more informal and casual tone.

curious event

Uses "curious" as a synonym for "peculiar", suggesting intrigue and inquisitiveness.

bizarre episode

Employs "bizarre" to emphasize the strangeness and unusual nature of the event.

anomalous situation

Introduces a more formal and technical term, making it suitable for specific contexts.

uncommon circumstance

Replaces "incident" with a broader term, diluting the specificity of the event.

remarkable instance

Shifts the focus to the noteworthiness of the event rather than its strangeness.

singular occurrence

Uses "singular" to highlight the uniqueness of the event, adding a slightly literary flair.

fluke event

Describes an incident that's random, unusual and unlikely to be repeated.

FAQs

How can I use "peculiar incident" in a sentence?

You can use "peculiar incident" to describe an unusual or strange event that stands out. For example: "The town was abuzz with talk of a "peculiar incident" that occurred last night."

What can I say instead of "peculiar incident"?

You can use alternatives like "strange event", "unusual occurrence", or "odd happening" depending on the context.

Is "peculiar incident" formal or informal?

"Peculiar incident" falls in a neutral register. While "peculiar" might sound slightly old-fashioned, the phrase is generally suitable for both news reporting and casual conversation.

What makes an incident "peculiar"?

An incident is considered "peculiar" when it deviates from the norm, exhibiting unusual, strange, or unexpected characteristics. The degree of deviation determines how noticeable the incident is.