Monday, February 23, 2026

Why can't something be ‘very unique’?

Discover why grammar sticklers cringe at "very unique" and when bending the rules might actually enhance your writing style.
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Vocabulary

Why can't something be 'very unique'?

Discover why grammar sticklers cringe at "very unique" and when bending the rules might actually enhance your writing style.

Unique toy duck among many other plain toy ducks.

T here are times when you might want to add a bit of extra oomph to your words to get your point across. Consider the opening line of the U.S. Constitution: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union…" Grammatically, describing something as "more perfect" is impossible. "Perfect" is, by definition, perfect. 

Absolute adjectives are words such as "unique," "perfect," or "impossible" — these terms are unequivocal on their own, shouldn't be compared or intensified, and don't deal in any level of varying degrees. They differ from comparative adjectives ("smarter," "faster," "lesser," etc.), which deal in degrees or levels, and superlative adjectives ("smartest," "fastest," "least," etc.), which have an element of judgment. But despite the fact that absolute adjectives technically should stand on their own, without modification, many writers opt to modify them as a point of style. 

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Flexed biceps emoji

Flexed Biceps

Meaning: Depicts a flexed bicep muscle, indicating physical strength, or contexts of power, determination, or solidarity.


Evolution: While originally representing bodybuilding or fitness, ๐Ÿ’ชnow shows strength in broader contexts, including emotional resilience, determination, and support. It's frequently used on social media to celebrate achievements or express encouragement.


Usage: [Caption on image of closed laptop]: Finally submitted my thesis! Six months of hard work paid off ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ“š

A Place Both Wonderful and Strange by Scott Meslow

A Place Both Wonderful and Strange

By Scott Meslow

David Lynch's television show "Twin Peaks" premiered in 1990, but decades later, we're still asking, "Who killed Laura Palmer?" In "A Place Both Wonderful and Strange," an entertainment reporter details the history and cultural influence of the surreal murder mystery. Based on interviews with creators and cast members, this nonfiction book is recommended for fans of David Lynch, prestige television, and damn fine coffee with excellent pie.

Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer

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10 Ways To Speak Victorian Slang

England's Victorian era was a time of major societal and cultural change. This shift was also apparent in the world of linguistics. Here's a look at a few slang terms coined in that period.

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