uncommonly

USAGE SUMMARY

'uncommonly' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adverb meaning “not ordinarily; unusually.” Example sentence: He exhibited an uncommonly benevolent attitude toward his employees.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It may yet amplify its effect across a Europe uncommonly volatile and vulnerable to a Grillo-style insurrection.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, another week and another uncommonly brilliant guest turn in the shape of Nicola Walker's harassed, insomniac, Red Bull-swigging social worker Wendy.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I check online and it's true: in John Linnell's 1838 version, at the National Portrait Gallery, he has uncommonly hairy black eyebrows, a receding hairline and a beaky nose.

The Guardian - Film

On the environment, though, Mr Yudhoyono has been uncommonly courageous.

The Economist

They are well preserved, and encased in sediments that allow uncommonly precise dating.

The Economist

BYD's share price is now about one-third of its 2009 peak.BYD's chairman, Wang Chuanfu, is lauded as a near-genius, and the company's workers are said to be uncommonly motivated.

The Economist

Led by their "commanding general", the uncommonly astute Nathan Mayer in London, the brothers were able to offer their services to the British and other governments transferring subsidies and remitting funds for war.In the early days, the family fortune swelled with the profits of smuggling operations, market speculations and front-running on government commissions.

The Economist

Sir John Major, who often appeared to be an odd man out when he was in office, has written his memoirs of course, but his second book is delightfully different: a history of cricket from its uncharted origins somewhere in southern England to the first world war.For a former prime minister, his book is uncommonly modest.

The Economist

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, used uncommonly strong language when she rejected the idea for common Eurobonds by saying Europe would not share debt liability "as long as I live".

The Economist

The questioning of his leadership within conservative ranks, especially among younger rebels, had become uncommonly lively, causing the uncertainty and speculation that compelled him to lay his cards on the table 18 months before the vote.

The Economist

ENGINEERS are unusually fond of quoting Murphy's law that "if things can go wrong they will", largely because theirs is an uncommonly disaster-prone profession.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "uncommonly" to emphasize a characteristic or quality that stands out as unusual or exceptional. This adverb adds nuance and sophistication to your writing, highlighting deviations from the norm.

Common error

Avoid using "uncommonly" when you mean "uncommon". "Uncommonly" is an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, whereas "uncommon" is an adjective, describing nouns. For instance, say "It is uncommon to see snow in July" not "It is uncommonly to see snow in July".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "uncommonly" is to act as an adverb, modifying adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs to intensify their meaning. Ludwig provides several examples illustrating this usage, such as describing someone as "uncommonly astute" or something as "uncommonly strong". The Ludwig AI confirms its adverbial nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "uncommonly" is a versatile adverb used to emphasize the degree to which something is unusual or exceptional. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English. As evidenced by numerous examples on Ludwig, it frequently appears in news, media, and encyclopedic sources, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using "uncommonly", ensure that it modifies the correct part of speech (verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs), and consider alternatives like "exceptionally" or "remarkably" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceptionally

Expresses a similar level of infrequency and remarkableness, but places more emphasis on being an exception to the norm.

remarkably

Focuses on the quality of being worthy of attention due to its unusual or surprising nature.

extraordinarily

Emphasizes the quality of being beyond what is ordinary or usual.

unusually

Directly indicates a deviation from the usual or expected, maintaining a neutral tone.

distinctively

Implies a clear and noticeable difference from others, highlighting uniqueness.

singularly

Stresses the uniqueness of something, setting it apart from everything else.

notably

Highlights something worthy of being noticed or remembered, often due to its importance or significance.

particularly

Indicates a specific focus or emphasis on a certain aspect or characteristic.

noticeably

Suggests that something is easily observed or detected, often due to its unusual nature.

strikingly

Implies a strong and impressive difference that captures attention.

FAQs

How can I use "uncommonly" in a sentence?

You can use "uncommonly" to modify an adjective or adverb, indicating a high degree of that quality. For example, "She was "uncommonly brave"" or "He performed "uncommonly well"".

What's a good alternative to "uncommonly"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "exceptionally", "remarkably", or "unusually" to express a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "uncommonly common"?

While seemingly contradictory, "uncommonly common" can be used to describe something that, despite being generally widespread, possesses a particular instance or characteristic to a striking degree. It is, however, "rarely used" and may sound awkward.

What part of speech is "uncommonly"?

"Uncommonly" is an adverb. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate the extent or degree to which something is done or possesses a quality.