An Error, More or Less

In its front page sidebar, Aug. 6. 1993, The Crimson stated: "Jerry R. Green just completed his first year in the most unique job in the University: provost."

Provost may be a unique position (one of a kind), but The Crimson is not unique in its improper use of that adjective. Some-thing or some person is unique or not. It can't be a little bit, more or less unique.

This year Andy McDowell and James Garner made the same error on the Jay Leno Show. Boston Globe editor Marjorie Pritchard and Christian Science Monitor editor Alice Hume both misused the word at an appearance before a writer's group last year.

The editor of the Newbury Street Guide did the same last month. Harvard Divinity School Professor Diana Eck made the same mistake but corrected herself during an introduction at Harvard Hall last year.

The Crimson joins a distinguished group of language abusers by finding a job to be most unique. I was uniquely shocked. Roy Bercaw