Can something be more unique than something else? Can something be very unique? [duplicate]
Solution 1:
I think it is all about usages, that these kind of adjectives are gradable. For example, the meaning of unique is derived from latin unus 'one'.
So, when its meaning is related to a mathematical concept it cannot be modified. But there is a second sense in unique meaning unusual or special, in this case it isn't related to the first sense i.e. being only one of its kind.
Solution 2:
Some people consider more unique acceptable, especially informally, while others consider it wrong or ugly for the reason you suggested. Most style guides would advise against it. The choice is yours, as always.
A quotation from Fowler's Modern English Usage (Burchfield ed.):
It must, I think, be conceded that unique is losing its quality of being 'not gradable' (or absolute), but copy editors are still advised to query* such uses while the controversy about its acceptability continues.
*) query (printing): a question mark (?), especially as added on a manuscript, proof sheet, or the like, indicating doubt as to some point in the text.
See also this question:
Are the rules regarding absolute modifiers too absolute?
Solution 3:
Yes, something can properly be called "more unique". It's easy to construct an example.
You hold a contest asking for "unique barbecue ideas".
- A flying barbecue is unique. It has one differentiating feature.
- A flying barbecue that hums show tunes is unique. It has two differentiating features.
- The flying, humming barbecue is more unique than the flying barbecue.
If I had a contest for "unique barbecues", the second is necessarily "more unique"--without making value judgements as to the uniqueness of, say, whether a flying barbecue is more unique than a dancing barbecue.
Solution 4:
To say something is more unique than something else is not correct.
Unique means one of a kind. Something either is unique or it isn't. It's a "yes or no", "all or nothing", "true or false" kind of term.
For example, if you were to say "the Earth revolves around the Sun", that would be "true". If you then said, "the Moon revolves around the Earth and the Earth revolves around the Sun", that would also be true — but it wouldn't be more true than the first statement. They are simply both true.
It's the same way for uniqueness. Something may be more remarkable in it's uniqueness than something else, but it doesn't make it any more unique.