wonderful specimen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wonderful specimen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone that is an excellent example of a particular type or category. Example: "The museum displayed a wonderful specimen of ancient pottery that captivated all the visitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Because "Driving Mr. Albert" in fact revolved around a brief, largely uneventful car trip involving a not very chatty passenger ("Way-ell, it sure has been a wonderful specimen" is Dr. Harvey at his most communicative), Mr. Paterniti often found himself reaching for something more.

The New York Times - Books

Obviously, every picnic needs a cake and Bryony Bowie's is a wonderful specimen.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When Paterniti peppers Harvey with questions about the brain, the old man just chuckles nervously and says, "Way-ell, it sure has been a wonderful specimen" -- then launches off on rambling anecdotes about shad festivals in Connecticut or the 1931 Yale football team ("he begins each with words like: 'In the days of canals...' or 'I remember the Depression for its coffee' ").

The New York Times - Books

"But the true phylogeny of the great apes is still open to question and will probably not be resolved by this wonderful specimen".

Science Magazine

"It's an extraordinarily complete, wonderful specimen, but it's not telling us too much that we didn't know before," says paleoanthropologist Elwyn Simons of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

You might also be shown his vast (and growing) collection of weird and wonderful specimens.

The Guardian - Books

Hudson obviously loves the craftsmanship of cartography, and she has found some wonderful specimens.

The New Yorker

All of which makes it more vital that we seek to honour Wedgwood's founding wish and save these wonderful specimens of his new and old articles.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hazy fields of color, sprinkled with runes adapted from Shang-era oracle-bone script, are wonderful specimens of fifties informel abstraction.

The New Yorker

The 2000-year-old-old 2000-year-old-old 2000-year-old-old 2000-year-old-old of the Nationalimeboretum at WeStanding is one of England's oldest trees: a small-leaved lime thumblyy be up to 2,000 yeamidold.

The Guardian - Travel

A Saracens player for the last decade, Alphonsi is one of the best female rugby players in the world right now, and is described by her Saracens coach, Amanda Bennett, as "a wonderful physical specimen; her breakdown skills, her tackle technique, her physique, her attitude - it doesn't get any better".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as a "wonderful specimen", ensure the context clearly indicates what makes it exceptional. Specific details strengthen the impact of your description.

Common error

Avoid using "wonderful specimen" in casual conversations or informal writing. Its formal tone might sound unnatural or pretentious in such settings. Instead, opt for simpler, more relatable adjectives like 'amazing' or 'great'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wonderful specimen" functions primarily as a descriptive phrase, modifying a noun. It combines an adjective ('wonderful') with a noun ('specimen') to denote something that is an exemplary or impressive example of its type. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wonderful specimen" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI, best suited for describing something exemplary or impressive. While its frequency is uncommon, it appears mainly in News & Media and Science contexts, adopting a formal to neutral tone. For more casual settings, simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. When using "wonderful specimen", ensure that the context and specific details clearly indicate what makes the subject exceptional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prime example

A more concise and direct substitute, conveying top quality.

remarkable example

Replaces 'wonderful' with 'remarkable', emphasizing noteworthiness.

impressive example

Substitutes 'wonderful' with 'impressive', focusing on the quality of making a strong impact.

excellent model

Uses 'model' instead of 'specimen', suggesting something that serves as a pattern for others.

magnificent piece

Emphasizes the artistry or craftsmanship of the item, replacing 'specimen' with a more general term 'piece'.

outstanding sample

Replaces 'specimen' with 'sample', indicating a representative part or single item from a larger whole and 'wonderful' for 'outstanding'.

fantastic representation

Replaces 'specimen' with 'representation', highlighting its role as symbolizing something else.

superb illustration

Uses 'illustration' instead of 'specimen', implying something that clarifies or exemplifies.

exceptional instance

Substitutes 'wonderful' and 'specimen' with 'exceptional instance', emphasizing uniqueness and rarity.

splendid article

Uses 'article' which can refer to a particular item or object, and replaces 'wonderful' for 'splendid'.

FAQs

How can I use "wonderful specimen" in a sentence?

Use "wonderful specimen" to describe something that is an excellent or impressive example of its kind. For example, "The museum displayed a wonderful specimen of ancient pottery".

What can I say instead of "wonderful specimen"?

You can use alternatives like "remarkable example", "impressive example", or "prime example" depending on the context.

Is "wonderful specimen" suitable for informal conversation?

While grammatically correct, "wonderful specimen" is more appropriate for formal writing or scientific contexts. In casual conversation, consider using simpler alternatives like "great example" or "amazing piece".

What makes "wonderful specimen" different from "good example"?

"Wonderful specimen" implies a higher degree of excellence and impressiveness compared to the more general term "good example". "Wonderful specimen" suggests that the item or person is exceptional in some way.