unusually special

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unusually special" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not just special, but stands out as particularly unique or exceptional in some way. Example: "The event was unusually special, as it marked the 50th anniversary of the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

WEBER--Toni, an unusually special friend who was always there for me with sincere and honest advice, as well as for every other friend she had.

The New York Times

A musician has left an unusually special legacy when other musicians from the opposite side of the world are collaborating to recreate her seminal album in full to a sizeable audience.

The Guardian - Music

There was also a scene I shot with Jessica [Lange] that I don't think has aired yet that was also unusually special.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Jones, the Democrat facing Roy Moore, the Republican candidate, in Tuesday's unusually competitive special election to fill Jeff Sessions's former Senate seat, told me on Friday that he has more than fifteen thousand volunteers around the state.

The New Yorker

Unusually, they had special permission, under the animal experimentation legislation, to perform experiments when they visited estates, kennels and homes.

British Journal for the History of Science

The Village School chooses students based largely on referrals, transcripts and their individual needs, and tends to attract an unusually large percentage of special education students — about 50percentt��� even though it does not offer special education services beyond that of a traditional high school.

The New York Times

Within the military, a widespread sentiment exists that such rigor makes special operators unusually resilient to P.T.S.D. Shay subscribes to this view, in part.

The New Yorker

Wenham ice was marketed as being unusually pure, possessed of special cooling properties, successfully convincing British customers to avoid local British ice, which was condemned as polluted and unhealthy.

Wikipedia

What makes it special is the unusually close relationship between indoor house and outdoor pool.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The latest wobbly round of musical thrones is stirring unusually heated speculation.Some attach special significance to last-minute personnel changes made by the king before he left.

The Economist

"What makes them so special are the unusually large presses used to make large-scale prints and the complex, rich surfaces.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to highlight something's exceptional nature, use "unusually special" to convey a sense of rarity and distinctiveness. Ensure that the context clearly supports this emphasis.

Common error

Avoid pairing "unusually special" with other intensifiers (e.g., "very unusually special"), as this can create redundancy and weaken the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unusually special" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to denote something that is not only special but also possesses an exceptional or uncommon quality. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and offers usage examples, highlighting its descriptive role.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Unusually special" is a phrase used to describe something that is not only special but also notably unique or exceptional. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness, though its usage is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. Alternative phrases like "exceptionally unique" or "remarkably distinctive" can be used to convey a similar meaning, depending on the desired nuance. While grammatically sound, avoiding overuse and pairing with additional intensifiers is advisable to maintain writing clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceptionally unique

This phrase combines "exceptionally" and "unique" to emphasize rarity and distinctiveness more strongly than "unusually special".

remarkably distinctive

Replaces "unusually" with "remarkably" and "special" with "distinctive", focusing on notable and characteristic qualities.

particularly exceptional

Substitutes "unusually" with "particularly", underscoring that something is notably above the norm in quality or character.

singularly outstanding

Emphasizes the uniqueness and prominence of something with "singularly" and "outstanding".

uncommonly extraordinary

Uses "uncommonly" and "extraordinary" to amplify the rarity and impressiveness.

notably uncommon

Focuses on the rarity and infrequency of the thing being described, replacing the more positive connotation of "special" with a description of its prevalence.

strikingly singular

Replaces "unusually" with "strikingly" to highlight how noticeably unique the thing is.

uniquely remarkable

This alternative emphasizes that the subject has features that no others do, combined with being worthy of attention.

incredibly rare

This phrase reduces the scope to the rareness of the subject, without touching on its qualities.

distinctively peculiar

Conveys a sense of uniqueness with an added hint of oddness or eccentricity.

FAQs

How can I use "unusually special" in a sentence?

Use "unusually special" to describe something that is not only special but also notably unique or exceptional. For example, "The occasion was "unusually special" because it celebrated a milestone achievement".

What can I say instead of "unusually special"?

You can use alternatives such as "exceptionally unique", "remarkably distinctive", or "particularly exceptional", depending on the context.

Is "unusually special" grammatically correct?

Yes, "unusually special" is grammatically correct and understandable, although it's not very common.

What is the difference between "unusually special" and "very special"?

"Unusually special" implies a higher degree of uniqueness or exceptionality compared to "very special". "Very special" simply indicates a high level of importance or value, whereas "unusually special" suggests something is uniquely so.