slightly unusual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly unusual" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not typical or expected, but only to a small degree. Example: "The weather today is slightly unusual for this time of year, with temperatures much warmer than average."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yesterday's was slightly unusual.

The Guardian - Business

Good looking if slightly unusual and secretive.

The Guardian

"It tidies up what was a slightly unusual situation.

The Guardian - Business

Perhaps that's because he had a slightly unusual start.

Independent

Where slightly unusual women meet classically beautiful men.

The Guardian - Film

The obligatory seafood tartare takes a slightly unusual turn.

The New York Times - Arts

That used to be seen as slightly unusual.

The Guardian

There was a level of coordination that was slightly unusual".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Jazz is a part of my history that's slightly unusual.

The New York Times - Arts

This was always going to be a slightly unusual gig.

The Guardian - Music

The drug was "slightly unusual" because it was made solely of paracetamol.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "slightly unusual", be sure to provide context or examples to illustrate the specific way in which it deviates from the norm. This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly unusual" when the subject is actually significantly different or highly irregular. Choose a more appropriate descriptor like "very unusual" or "completely unexpected" to accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly unusual" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It qualifies a noun by indicating that the noun possesses a characteristic that deviates from the norm, but only to a limited extent. Ludwig examples confirm this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

13%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly unusual" is a versatile descriptor used to indicate a mild deviation from the norm. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts. As shown by Ludwig examples, its function is to pre-modify nouns, conveying a sense of mild surprise or peculiarity without causing alarm. It maintains a neutral register, making it appropriate for various forms of communication, from formal reports to casual conversations. When using this phrase, ensure you provide context to clarify the nature of the deviation and avoid overstating the degree of unusualness. Consider alternatives like "somewhat atypical" or "mildly uncommon" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat atypical

Emphasizes a departure from the typical or expected, similar to unusual, but uses a more formal tone.

mildly uncommon

Indicates that something isn't frequently encountered, softening the impact of "unusual" with "mildly".

a bit out of the ordinary

Replaces "unusual" with "out of the ordinary" providing a more descriptive and less direct expression of abnormality.

rather peculiar

Substitutes "unusual" with "peculiar", suggesting something is strange or odd, with "rather" acting as a modifier.

fairly exceptional

Replaces "unusual" with "exceptional", meaning not typical, but possibly positive, and modified by "fairly".

somewhat strange

Uses the more direct term "strange" in place of unusual, softened by "somewhat".

a little different

Replaces "unusual" with a simple "different", indicating a minor divergence from what's expected.

marginally odd

Substitute "unusual" with "odd" and quantify the level of uncommonness by using "marginally".

moderately unconventional

Replaces "unusual" with "unconventional", indicating a deviation from norms, quantified by "moderately".

relatively rare

Indicates low occurence, using "rare" in place of unusual, quantifying the level of uncommonness by using "relatively".

FAQs

How can I use "slightly unusual" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly unusual" to describe something that deviates from the norm in a minor way. For example, "The weather today is "slightly unusual" for this time of year" or "His behaviour was "slightly unusual", but not alarming".

What are some alternatives to "slightly unusual"?

Some alternatives include "somewhat atypical", "mildly uncommon", or "a bit out of the ordinary", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "slightly unusual"?

While "unusual" already implies a deviation from the norm, "slightly unusual" emphasizes that the deviation is minor. It's not necessarily redundant, but it can be if the context already makes the degree of unusualness clear.

What's the difference between "slightly unusual" and "very unusual"?

"Slightly unusual" indicates a small deviation from the norm, while "very unusual" suggests a much larger or more significant deviation. The choice depends on the degree to which something differs from what's expected.