Wharton Applicant Grammar Discussion

My theme is also about "history never repeats, but it surely rhymes."

Oh man I used a line in my essay that is almost exactly like that. Bummer. Doubt that will change anything but looks like our essays aren't as "unique" as we'd hoped.

pet peeve of mine....unique is binary. something's unique or it's not. you can't be sorta one-of-a-kind....

That's exactly what I am saying. If unique is binary than our essays are no longer unique because there will be more than one with that line.

I already got into an argument with someone about what qualifies as a haiku so don't want to argue over a definition, but.....

you said "as 'unique'" meaning that it still had some degree of unique-ness....

Either way it is a waste of time to argue about the word "unique." Bottom line is you know what I was trying to say, so if I offended you, sorry.

I wouldn't lose any sleep. He dropped his unique binary bomb on someone in the Harvard forum too.

pet peeve of mine....unique is binary. something's unique or it's not. you can't be sorta one-of-a-kind....

SO WRONG! Let's say a widget has 10 attributes. Widget a, attribute 1 is unique. Widget b, attributes 1, 2, and 3 are unique. Widget b is "more unique" than widget a.

Likewise with their essays. In so far as their shared quote is concerned, they are now each less unique, ie, less of the essay is unique. I am sure each essay still has unique components. But they are less unique.

Anyways dude, sounds like you belong in law school, not an mba program.

"Anyways dude, sounds like you belong in law school, not an mba program"...pot calling the kettle black?

Definition of unique:
–adjective
1.
existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics: a unique copy of an ancient manuscript.
2.
having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable: Bach was unique in his handling of counterpoint.
3.
limited in occurrence to a given class, situation, or area: a species unique to Australia.
4.
limited to a single outcome or result; without alternative possibilities: Certain types of problems have unique solutions

it's not additive

5.
not typical; unusual: She has a very unique smile.

Alright you guys, let's not crowd this thread with grammar wars. Let's keep it relevant to Wharton application.

Many authors of usage guides, editors, teachers, and others feel strongly that such “absolute” words as complete, equal, perfect, and especially unique cannot be compared because of their “meaning”: a word that denotes an absolute condition cannot be described as denoting more or less than that absolute condition. However, all such words have undergone semantic development and are used in a number of senses, some of which can be compared by words like more, very, most, absolutely, somewhat, and totally and some of which cannot.
The earliest meanings of unique when it entered English around the beginning of the 17th century were “single, sole” and “having no equal.” By the mid-19th century unique had developed a wider meaning, “not typical, unusual,” and it is in this wider sense that it is compared: The foliage on the late-blooming plants is more unique than that on the earlier varieties. The comparison of so-called absolutes in senses that are not absolute is standard in all varieties of speech and writing.

Welcome to the 21st century, Jmw125!