a certain one of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain one of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific item or individual among a group, often when the exact identity is not important or is unknown. Example: "I spoke to a certain one of the committee members about the upcoming project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It's not a coincidence that the same day Baig was dunked in water, he had also given three dubious LBWs against England, and turned down a certain one of their own.

The Guardian - Sport

The stem based methods look at motifs as a certain (one of three) combination of stems with a purely secondary structure based focus.

Biology Direct

If you're unsure about what your profile looks like to a certain one of your friends, you can check it out by clicking "View As... ...... on the right hand side of your profile.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Banville's words appear in the mouth of a certain Shawn Bawn, one of many Dublin literary grandees guyed here; Colm Tóbleróne is another.

The Guardian - Books

Furthermore, past a certain age, one of the classic symptoms of adolescent anorexia -- loss of menses -- doesn't apply.

Huffington Post

"It was a question of how directly you could tie it to a certain place," one of the officials said.

The New York Times

At a certain point, one of the guard dogs attacks Alison.

The New Yorker

She had to be seen to be, to a certain extent, one of the boys," noted Clark.

The Guardian

In an introductory passage, he explains: "I was a cog in his machine for a certain period, one of many cogs, that and nothing more".

The New York Times - Books

At a certain point one of the individuals, named Mary, decides to take a costly perfume and anoint Jesus' feet and hair.

Huffington Post

As an actress whose spent years reading scripts featuring Hispanic women of a certain age, one element of the scene felt wrong.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a certain one of" when you want to indicate a specific item from a group without necessarily revealing its exact identity, especially when the identity is unimportant or unknown.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain one of" repeatedly in close proximity; it can make your writing sound stilted or overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "one of" or "a particular one" for better flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain one of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a particular member from a group without providing explicit identification. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts to indicate an unspecified but definite element.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a certain one of" serves to identify a specific item within a group without explicitly naming it. As Ludwig examples reveal, its usage spans across news, science, and general contexts. While grammatically sound, it is advisable to use it judiciously to avoid sounding overly formal. While Ludwig marks the entry as correct, it is a rare term and its most frequent presence is in News & Media. When choosing alternative phrases, consider the subtle variations in emphasis and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a particular one of

Emphasizes the distinctiveness of the selected item.

a specific one of

Highlights the precision with which the item is chosen.

one particular of

Reorders the phrase while maintaining similar meaning.

one specific of

Reorders the phrase while maintaining similar meaning.

a designated one of

Implies a formal or official selection process.

one of those

Simplifies the phrase focusing on belonging to that kind

a unique one of

Highlights the uniqueness of the item within the group.

an individual one of

Emphasizes the individual nature of the selected item.

a random one of

Highlights that the selected item was not picked purposefully.

some one of

Indicates a selection but is less precise.

FAQs

How to use "a certain one of" in a sentence?

Use "a certain one of" to refer to a specific member of a group without explicitly identifying which one. For instance, "A certain one of the committee members raised concerns about the budget."

What can I say instead of "a certain one of"?

You can use alternatives like "a particular one of", "a specific one of", or simply "one of" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to use "a certain one of" compared to "one of"?

"A certain one of" can add a slight degree of formality or emphasis compared to the simpler "one of", but the difference is often minimal and context-dependent. Overuse might make the writing sound affected.

When is it appropriate to use "a certain one of" versus "any one of"?

"A certain one of" implies you're referring to a specific item, even if you don't name it. "Any one of" suggests that any item from the group would be suitable or acceptable.