Ask Me Help Desk - Writing mistakes

Writing mistakes

What type of mistake is " very unique"? I think it's a mistake in style.

What type of mistake as being "very unique" depends on the context in which it concerns. Please explain the context to which it concerns is.

When something is unique, it means there is only one of them.

Something cannot be more unique than another thing. There aren't degrees of uniqueness. Something is either unique or not. "Very Unique" has no meaning. Likewise, something cannot be "a little bit unique".

I don't know what you mean by type of mistake, but hopefully you will be able to identify what you are looking from now that I've told you why it's a mistake.

"I'm unique - just like everyone else!"

All people are unique, just some are more unique than others? :P (Orwellish)

*claps*

Brilliant! I know quite a few people that don't understand that!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capuchin

When something is unique, it means there is only one of them.

Something cannot be more unique than another thing. There aren't degrees of uniqueness. Something is either unique or not. "Very Unique" has no meaning. Likewise, something cannot be "a little bit unique".

I don't know what you mean by type of mistake, but hopefully you will be able to identify what you are looking from now that I've told you why it's a mistake.

Thanks. I already knew. I could get technical if I wanted to... Because unique is an absolute term, you can't use it with adverbs. Since unique means "one", you can't say " very one".

You already knew but you thought you'd ask anyway? What were you looking for?

Also why did you disagree with me? Would you disagree with George Orwell, one of the greatest writers of our time, as well?

Hunter: Looks like we just found one..

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamworld05

... I could get technical if I wanted to... Since unique means "one", you can't say " very one".

You can say "very one" look;

"Oooh, what a lovely pink dress, it's the very one I was looking for!" :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capuchin

You already knew but you thought you'd ask anyways? What were you looking for?

Also why did you disagree with me? Would you disagree with George Orwell, one of the greatest writers of our time, aswell?

Hunter: Looks like we just found one..

I'm not disagreeing with George Orwell, just you. I wanted to test everybody's knowledge. It seems like not a lot of people know. I was looking for the interesting answers I'd get. Did I not say that? " You said so yourself: you cannot use more unique."

Don't worry, I forgive you for saying the idiotic things you did.

And the Award for Weirdest thread of the month goes to...

:d

Quote:

Originally Posted by iAMfromHuntersBar

You can say "very one" look;

"Oooh, what a lovely pink dress, it's the very one I was looking for!" :D

You could but in this case, one is a noun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capuchin

Don't worry, I forgive you for saying the idiotic things you did.

This is funny how?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamworld05

This is funny how?

Haven't you ever heard the saying "Its funny cause its true"??

Of course I have! I just don't see how it's idiotic. Apparently, only ONE person knows. Not a lot of people know why " very unique" doesn't make sense.

The only person who doesn't know what's going on is you. You're missing my point entirely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capuchin

The only person who doesn't know what's going on is you. You're missing my point entirely.

So, care to explain your point? Oh, yeah, let me remind you: You haven't really answered my question. You told me why " very unique" is a mistake, but I already knew.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamworld05

So, care to explain your point? Oh, yeah, let me remind you: You haven't really answered my question. You told me why " very unique" is a mistake, but I already knew.

So is your question a trick question then? I'm confused now!

Quote:

Originally Posted by iAMfromHuntersBar

So is your question a trick question then? I'm confused now!

No, I asked what type of mistake unique was.

Comparing an incomparable?

I don't really understand what you mean by type of mistake. Do you have well defined types of mistkes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capuchin

Comparing an incomparable?

I don't really understand what you mean by type of mistake. Do you have well defined types of mistkes?

Grammatical mistakes, spelling errors, mistakes in style. Types of mistakes in writing...

I guess it's grammatical.

Ah right! Sooo, your question in fact is;

"In writing terms, if "unique" was written, what type of mistake would this be?
I think it would class as a mistake in style, what what old chap!"

I think it would class as an oxymoron!

I don't really think it's a mistake in modern usage. People have been using it for years, and that's how language evolves. Only purists would baulk at it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capuchin

I don't really think it's a mistake in modern usage. People have been using it for years, and that's how language evolves. Only purists would baulk at it.

What about teachers?

They shouldn't really be bothered by it unless they are purists, I think most dictionaries would note that the absolute sense of unique is becoming rarer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capuchin

They shouldn't really be bothered by it unless they are purists, I think most dictionaries would note that the absolute sense of unique is becoming rarer.

... What's a purist?

A language purist is someone who wants the language to remain pure and away from the influence of diluting influences.

They often ignore the fact that language is meant to be an ever-evolving process.

Hmm, nobody's arguing as to why "very unique" is not a mistake.

I thought I was?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capuchin

I thought i was?

You just said it was a mistake before.