409 conflict

public IHttpActionResult PostCanonical(Canonical canonical)
{
    if (!ModelState.IsValid)
    {
        return BadRequest(ModelState);
    }

    // Check for duplicate Canonical text for the same app name.
    if (db.IsDuplicateCanonical(canonical.AppName, canonical.Text))
    {
        // It's a duplicate.  Return an HTTP 409 Conflict error to let the client know.
        var original = db.CanonicalSentences.First(c => c.ID == canonical.ID);
        return new NegotiatedContentResult<T>(HttpStatusCode.Conflict, original, this);
    }

    db.CanonicalSentences.Add(canonical);
    db.SaveChanges();

    return CreatedAtRoute("DefaultApi", new { id = canonical.ID }, canonical);
}