One moment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "One moment" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to request a brief pause or to ask someone to wait for a short period. Example: "One moment, please, while I retrieve the information you requested."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

One moment.

The New Yorker

One moment, silence.

The New York Times

"One moment, please".

The New York Times

One moment at a time.

The New York Times

One moment Silverjet's been saved.

The Economist

"One moment they're for local control.

The New York Times

One moment in particular favored Real.

The New York Times - Sports

One moment he was striding.

The New York Times

One moment still haunts him.

The New York Times - Arts

One moment really stands out.

The Guardian

One moment will stand out.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "One moment" to politely request a brief pause from someone. It's suitable in various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal settings, but avoid overusing it in very rapid exchanges.

Common error

Avoid using "One moment" repeatedly in rapid-fire conversations or urgent situations. Opt for quicker phrases like "Hold on" or "Wait" to maintain the pace and avoid sounding unnecessarily formal or disruptive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "One moment" functions primarily as an interjection or a request for a short delay. It is often used to politely ask someone to wait, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples where it precedes an action or explanation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "One moment" is a grammatically sound phrase used to politely request a short pause. While Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable, its occurrence is relatively rare based on the provided examples. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts. When using "One moment", consider the pace of the conversation and choose alternative phrases like "just a moment" or "hold on a second" for faster exchanges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Just a moment

Uses "just" for emphasis, but maintains the same request for a short pause.

Please wait a moment

Adds "please" for politeness and explicitly requests waiting.

Hold on a second

Uses "second" instead of "moment", implying a slightly shorter duration.

Give me a second

Shifts the focus to the speaker needing time, still implying a short delay.

Allow me a moment

More formal phrasing, requesting permission for a short delay.

Bear with me a second

Asks for patience while implying a minor inconvenience.

I'll be right with you

Indicates that the speaker will attend to the listener shortly.

Hang on

More informal, direct request to wait.

A brief pause

Describes the action of pausing, rather than a direct request.

Kindly hold

A polite and formal way of asking someone to wait.

FAQs

How can I use "One moment" in a sentence?

You can use "One moment" to politely ask someone to wait briefly, such as saying "One moment, please, while I check the information" or "One moment; I need to grab my things".

What can I say instead of "One moment"?

You can use alternatives like "just a moment", "hold on a second", or "please wait" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it correct to say "Just a moment" instead of "One moment"?

Yes, "Just a moment" is a perfectly acceptable and commonly used alternative to "One moment". They both serve the same purpose of requesting a brief pause.

What's the difference between "One moment" and "In a moment"?

"One moment" is a direct request for someone to wait briefly. "In a moment" indicates that something will happen soon, but doesn't necessarily require the other person to wait, such as "I'll be there in a moment".