Self-Aggrandizement: very unique

Every so often, some poor sap will use the phrase 'very unique' in conversation. And every self-appointed grammatician within a two hundred foot radius will pounce. "You can't say that," they whine. "You can't use unique with an adverbial modifier."

I hate these people. They're smarmy, irritating, and self-righteous. And, most importantly, they're wrong. They need to pick up a copy of the venerable Oxford English Dictionary, to peruse the listing for 'unique.' They'd note that 'unique' is a word with several possible meanings. One meaning, 'being the sole example of something,' probably can't be modified. A second, 'unusual or esoteric,' certainly can be. (By substituting the second meaning, we arrive at 'very unusual,' an uncontestedly grammatic phrase.)

Further, even if 'unique' didn't have the second meaning, 'very' and other adverbial modifiers wouldn't necessarily be ruled out. Consider the similar case of 'perfect:' while most people consider the word unmodifiable, few would object to the preamble of the US Constitution, which begins 'We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union.'

So, in short, next time you hear someone objecting to 'very unique,' punch them in the mouth. The Founding Fathers have your back.

very unique Filed Tuesday, April 30 2002.

very unique
Filed Tuesday, April 30 2002.