Episode Details

Nothing is Ever Very Full or Very Unique

Published 1 year ago

This mini-episode is another Public Service Announcement from a grammar Nazi. It's my simple effort to clean up sloppy English.

I explain why you should never say something is:

Very Full or Very Unique

This mini-episode is another Public Service Announcement from a grammar Nazi. It's my simple effort to clean up sloppy English.

I explain why you should never say something is:

Why You Should Never Say Something Is "Very Full" or "Very Unique"
Very Full

Semantic Issue: Saying "very full" is not inherently incorrect, but it can be seen as redundant or unnecessary. "Full" typically means completely filled or occupied, so adding "very" doesn't add much meaning. However, in casual conversation, it's often used to emphasize a high degree of fullness.

Alternative Phrasing: Instead of "very full," you might say "completely full" or "totally full" to convey a stronger sense of being filled to capacity.

Very Unique

Semantic Issue: The term "unique" means being one-of-a-kind or without equal. Therefore, saying "very unique" can be seen as contradictory because something cannot be more or less unique; it is or isn't.

Alternative Phrasing: If you want to convey that something is unusual or exceptional, consider using phrases like "very unusual," "extremely rare," or "exceptionally special" instead of "very unique."

Common Usage: Despite the logical inconsistency, "very unique" is commonly used in informal contexts to mean "very unusual" or "very special." However, in formal or precise writing, it's generally advised to avoid this usage.

In summary, while "very full" might be redundant, "very unique" is more problematic due to its logical inconsistency with the definition of "unique."

More info

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