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Prepositions after adjectives

Unique to or unique in?

Unique to means exclusive to a person, place, or thing. Unique in refers to the area or quality in which something is unusual.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct with unique?

Use unique to for something that belongs only to one person, group, or thing. Use unique in when describing the aspect in which something is special or unusual.

This dialect is unique to the island.
She is unique in her approach to teaching.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
unique to + person/place/thing

Showing exclusivity

Use unique to when something exists only in one place or belongs only to one group.

The custom is unique to this region.
These markings are unique to snow leopards.
2
unique in + quality/area

Showing the aspect that is unusual

Use unique in to explain the respect in which someone or something is distinctive.

The company is unique in its flexible hiring model.
He was unique in his ability to simplify complex ideas.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
unique to
The recipe is unique to the village.
existing only there
unique in
The artist is unique in her use of colour.
special in a particular aspect
unique at
She is unique at solving puzzles.
nonstandard; use skilled at or unique in instead
unique for
The city is famous for its food.
for is not normally used directly after unique

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using unique at

English does not normally use unique at to describe ability.

✕ She is unique at mathematics. ✓ She is unique in her approach to mathematics.

Confusing exclusivity and quality

Use unique to for exclusivity and unique in for a special characteristic.

✕ This plant is unique in Australia. ✓ This plant is unique to Australia.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. This style of music is ___ the region.
2. The scientist was unique ___ her methods.
3. Which option is standard English?

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say unique for?

Not usually directly after unique. English normally uses unique to or unique in.

Is unique to only for places?

No. It can refer to people, groups, periods, products, or places.

Can unique in describe skills?

Yes. It can describe the area in which someone is distinctive.

ubiquitous in, on, across, throughout or for? "ugly in", "ugly for" or "ugly of"? ultimate in, of, for, on or as? "unacceptable to", "unacceptable in" or "unacceptable for"? unaccounted for unaccustomed to or in? unacquainted with unaffected by, in, for or with? "unaffordable for" or "unaffordable to"? unanimous in, on, about, regarding or for? "unattractive to" or "unattractive for"? "unavailable for" or "unavailable to"?

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