unusually

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unusually" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not typical or is out of the ordinary. Example: "The weather has been unusually warm for this time of year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The questioning was, even by the standards of the garrulous current court, unusually intense and pointed.

The New York Times

In an unusually frank speech to an audience of leading rail industry figures, Carne said: "While our passenger safety performance is the best in Europe, about 600 railway workers a year – employees and contractors – are injured to the extent that they cannot return to work the next day.

The Guardian - Business

4 Property Ladder reappears on TV. 5 Bombastic US television stock-picker Jim Cramer appears unusually subdued and forecasts a slump.

The Guardian - Business

Unusually laced with wheat malt, which gives it a thicker mouthfeel and a notably earthy, grainy aspect, this hits you with a triple whammy of big, sweet, juicy caramelised malts; then unsweetened grapefruit, pepper and lemon notes; and finally a lingering bitterness that rolls on and on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As a way to tackle America's unusually stubborn chronic unemployment problem, Obama is expected to announce a deal with the leaders of large employers, for example, that will involve them agreeing not to discriminate against the long-term unemployed when making hiring decisions.

The Guardian

He has also acquired a reputation for brusqueness with journalists (he walked out of an interview with the Guardian in Iowa) and, unusually for an American politician, he hardly ever smiles.

The Guardian

Westlife are one of the last remaining bands from pop's late-90s boom period and have enjoyed an unusually lengthy run of success.

The Guardian - Music

The report, issued by the office of community-oriented policing services (Cops), presents an unusually detailed review of the use of fatal force by police officers, tracking fine-grain details of each shooting incident, such as number of shots fired, number of suspects involved, number of police involved, races and ages of police officers and suspects, whether the suspect had a gun and much more.

The Guardian

Most of the day, however, he was unusually quiet in public.

The Guardian - Sport

The US seems concerned by his win and, unusually, has issued a veiled warning.

The Guardian

In light of apparently unusually high levels of heart attacks, DLA Piper also called for an independent study into sudden cardiac arrests over the next three years and for there to be proper investigations into unexpected or sudden deaths.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unusually" to emphasize that something deviates from the norm, providing context for why this deviation is noteworthy. For instance, "The flowers bloomed unusually early this year" highlights that the timing is atypical and worth mentioning.

Common error

Avoid using "unusually" when the context doesn't clearly establish a baseline for comparison. Saying "He was unusually happy" is less effective if you haven't established his typical mood. Provide context to emphasize the departure from the norm.

Linguistic Context

The word "unusually" functions primarily as an adverb. According to Ludwig, it modifies adjectives or verbs to indicate that something is happening in a way that deviates from what is considered normal or typical. It serves to highlight the atypical nature of the action or quality being described.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unusually" is a versatile adverb used to denote deviations from the norm, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's grammatically sound and commonly used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. When using "unusually", ensure a clear baseline for comparison is established to highlight the atypical nature effectively. Alternatives like "abnormally", "exceptionally", and "remarkably" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. Avoid overuse in vague contexts to maintain clarity. "Unusually" helps to emphasize the exceptional or unexpected nature of something, drawing attention to its deviation from what is considered typical. Ensure to provide sufficient context and choose synonyms carefully based on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abnormally

Focuses on the deviation from a standard or norm, often implying a negative or problematic aspect.

exceptionally

Emphasizes exceeding a standard or norm, often in a positive or remarkable way.

remarkably

Highlights the noteworthiness or impressiveness of the deviation.

oddly

Suggests a strange or peculiar deviation from what is considered typical.

peculiarly

Similar to oddly, but often implies a more inherent or characteristic strangeness.

surprisingly

Highlights the unexpected nature of the event or characteristic.

uncommonly

Emphasizes the infrequency or rarity of the occurrence.

infrequently

Directly points to the low frequency of something happening.

distinctively

Focuses on how something stands out in a clear and recognizable manner.

singularly

Stresses the uniqueness or one-of-a-kind nature of the situation.

FAQs

How can I use "unusually" in a sentence?

Use "unusually" to describe something that deviates from the normal or expected. For example, "The weather is "unusually warm" for this time of year" indicates that the temperature is higher than what is typically expected.

What are some alternatives to "unusually"?

Alternatives to "unusually" include "abnormally", "exceptionally", or "remarkably", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Each of these emphasizes a deviation from the norm but with slight differences.

Which is correct: "unusually large" or "an unusually large"?

"An unusually large" is correct when referring to a singular, countable noun. The article "an" is necessary because "unusually" modifies the adjective "large", which in turn modifies the noun. For example, "an "unusually large apple"" is correct.

What's the difference between "unusually" and "unexpectedly"?

"Unusually" suggests a deviation from the norm or typical expectation, while "unexpectedly" emphasizes that something was not anticipated. You might say "The flowers bloomed "unusually early"" because it's earlier than usual, or "The flowers bloomed "unexpectedly"" if their blooming wasn't predicted or anticipated for other reasons.