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unusual ~ unique
[different pronunciation]
Some people use ‘unique’ in place of “unusual” which most grammarians consider wrong or bad English because these two words have clearly different meanings.
“Unusual” (adjective) means ‘(of something or someone) what is not common; rare; different from the normal or regular; interesting because it is different from others of the same group’,
e.g.
Her soup has a very unusual flavour and taste; you should try it!
This young boy has an unusual talent for reading fifty pages of text non-stop.
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“Unique” (adjective & pronounced ‘u.. nik’) means ‘(of something or someone) being only on of its kind or type; only found in a particular place, time, etc.’,
e.g.
Our teacher has a unique talent for language; he can speak eleven languages!
She has a unique ability of understanding the problems of animals by just looking at them.
Platypus is a unique animal because it lays eggs like reptiles and suckles its young like mammals.
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About the Author:BC Kumar
BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.
