“This is a very unique opportunity you shouldn't miss.”
Misused Entry 370 / 1011 60-second read
Unique vs. Very Unique
Unique is an absolute — you can't be 'sort of' or 'very' one-of-a-kind.
The comparisoni
“This is a unique opportunity you shouldn't miss.”
More examplesii
01
We offer a very unique service to our clients.
We offer a unique service to our clients.
02
Our product has a more unique design than competitors.
Our product has a more distinctive design than competitors.
03
Her voice is quite unique.
Her voice is unique. (Or: Her voice is remarkably distinctive.)
04
It's a pretty unique experience.
It's a rare experience. (Unique already says it all.)
05
This is an extremely unique role at our company.
This is a unique role at our company.
06
The author's style is somewhat unique.
The author's style is distinctive. (If it's truly unlike anything else, it's unique — no modifier needed.)
The ruleiii
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UNIQUE means one-of-a-kind — it's absolute.
People use 'very unique' as emphasis, not realizing that unique is already the strongest possible word. It's like saying 'very perfect' or 'very infinite'.
Memory aidiv
Remember it like this
Unique = UNIque — think UNI meaning ONE. If there's only one, you can't have 'more' of one. Use 'rare', 'unusual', or 'distinctive' if you want to intensify.