wholly unique

USAGE SUMMARY

'wholly unique' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It suggests something is entirely one of a kind. For example: "This sculpture is wholly unique; no other artwork like it can be found in the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

[ 24] A human clone would be wholly unique and, as such, it is difficult to maintain that even a "uniqueness" view of human dignity is dependant on having a unique genome.

BMC Medical Ethics

Professionals are not wholly unique.

The Guardian - Opinion

But its location made it wholly unique.

The New York Times - Travel

But Malick is a wholly unique film-maker.

The Guardian - Film

But the growth offered in college is wholly unique, and perhaps few would argue with that.

The New York Times

"It's a wholly unique collection, and it's unique in a number of ways," Cascardi says.

University of California, Berkeley

Because May is a wholly unique woman, of course, with her own achievements and ambitions and fascinating hairstyles.

The Guardian - Opinion

The comparison to WG Sebald has by now become obligatory, but I find your use of English wholly unique.

The Guardian - Books

It's rare that products or services are wholly unique or start a movement all on their own.

The Guardian

Filled with snapshots of exhilarating hope and horrifying atrocities, she offers us a wholly unique perspective on the Syrian uprising.

Princeton University

"Bulgakov's work is fascinating, dark and original and with talent like this, will surprise and entertain our viewers in a wholly unique way.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context; while "wholly unique" is generally acceptable, more formal settings may benefit from synonyms such as "entirely original" or "completely distinctive" to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "wholly unique" when describing something that is merely uncommon or slightly different. Ensure genuine and complete distinctiveness before employing this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wholly unique" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to emphasize its unparalleled nature. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a correct and usable phrase. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts to highlight distinctiveness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

32%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wholly unique" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that emphasizes the unparalleled nature of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts and effectively conveys complete distinctiveness. When writing, use "wholly unique" to stress genuine and complete uniqueness, avoiding overuse for merely uncommon items. Consider alternatives like "completely distinctive" or "entirely original" for formal settings or to diversify your language. The phrase appears frequently in "News & Media", "Academia", and "Science", exhibiting a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Completely distinctive

Emphasizes the thoroughness of the distinction.

Entirely original

Focuses on the lack of derivation from other sources.

Absolutely unparalleled

Highlights the lack of comparable examples.

Utterly singular

Stresses the one-of-a-kind nature.

Perfectly individual

Highlights the distinct characteristics.

Fully exceptional

Emphasizes the quality of being an exception to the norm.

Altogether unprecedented

Focuses on the lack of prior occurrence.

Unreservedly atypical

Stresses the deviation from the typical.

Quite unparalleled

Emphasizes the degree to which the item in question cannot be compared to others.

Thoroughly distinctive

Underlines the comprehensive nature of the difference.

FAQs

How can I use "wholly unique" in a sentence?

Use "wholly unique" to describe something that is entirely different and without parallel. For example, "The artist's style is "completely distinctive" and his approach is "wholly unique"".

What can I say instead of "wholly unique"?

You can use alternatives like "entirely original", ""completely distinctive"", or "utterly singular" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "very unique" or "completely unique"?

While some argue that "unique" inherently means one-of-a-kind and cannot be modified, phrases like ""wholly unique"" emphasize the completeness of the uniqueness and are commonly used.

What's the difference between "unique" and "wholly unique"?

"Unique" means being the only one of its kind. "Wholly unique" amplifies this, stressing that something is not just different, but entirely without parallel or precedent.