a lone copy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lone copy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a single, solitary instance of something, often in contexts where multiple copies exist or are expected. Example: "In the library, I found a lone copy of the rare book that I had been searching for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Almost 40 pages go by before she gives us even one word from her subject, an obscure 18th-century travel writer whose single published work appears to survive only as a lone copy in the British Library.

The New York Times - Books

The catch: as the name implies, this is a bulk deal only (requiring at least 20 copies of an application to be purchased before the discount is applied) and it's something that your university needs to organize — in other words, don't go trying to use your.edu address to get a lone copy of DoodleJump on the cheap.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Around each of these slow-reproducing molecules, a cloud of the fast-reproducing second molecule emerges to create a spherical blob with the lone copy of the first molecule at its center.

Science Magazine

By the time news leaked that Shkreli was the mystery buyer of the lone copy of an unreleased Wu-Tang Clan album, he was already public enemy number one; when he said he hadn't even bothered listening to the record, for which he paid $2 million, you got the sense that he was trolling on the scale of a supervillain.

Vice

When they figured out that the weird stop-motion animation that transfixed their six-year-old child for five minutes every night was based on a book, they tracked down the lone copy of Terry Pratchett's Truckers in the Wangaratta city library.

The Guardian - Books

The best way I can think of to describe Prison Break: The Final Break is that a lone DVD copy sat in the bargain bin at my local Rite Aid, untouched, for over a year.

Vice

Shkreli ended up buying the lone copy of the record in a complex $2 million deal in December 2015, but was sentenced to seven years in jail earlier this month; the judge authorized a sale of assets to pay victims of his fraud.

Forbes

"Lovely Day" didn't trigger a desire for khakis, but it did prompt a trip to my local CD retailer, where a clerk located the phrase "lovely day" in the store's proprietary database, and off I went with its lone copy of "Lean on Me: The Best of Bill Withers".

The New Yorker

The sale of the lone copy -- "the only copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with specially added Vanilla Fudge" -- will take place during "First Editions: Redrawn," an auction of annotated first edition books from some of the world's greatest-living illustrators.

Huffington Post

The usual roiling scrum of teachers, normally reserved for the area surrounding the schools' lone copy machine, had expanded by approximately 20 additional bodies and had migrated five feet away, to a counter on which three pans of freshly baked squares of coffee cake had just arrived.

Huffington Post

Bustamante's initial experiments--stretching and moving single DNA molecules--have led to his current research: how a lone enzyme copies a DNA sequence.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a lone copy", ensure the context clearly indicates why the singularity is significant, such as rarity, historical importance, or control.

Common error

Avoid using "a lone copy" when simply referring to one item among many identical items. The phrase implies a special circumstance surrounding its uniqueness, such as it being the only remaining instance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lone copy" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific item characterized by its singularity. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science & Research

25%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

4%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lone copy" is a grammatically correct and semantically rich phrase used to describe a single, isolated instance of something. Ludwig's analysis affirms its usability in written English. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and Science & Research contexts, where emphasizing uniqueness or scarcity is often crucial. While not highly frequent, its impact lies in its ability to convey rarity and special significance. To avoid misuse, remember that it should only be applied when the singularity of the copy genuinely matters. Consider alternatives like "a single copy" or "the only copy" to ensure accuracy and appropriate emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a single copy

Uses "single" instead of "lone", offering a more direct and common synonym.

a solitary copy

Replaces "lone" with "solitary", emphasizing the isolation of the single copy.

an isolated copy

Substitutes "lone" with "isolated", stressing the separateness of the copy.

one copy only

Rearranges the phrase to emphasize the exclusivity of having just one copy.

the only copy

Emphasizes that no other copies exist.

a unique copy

Highlights the distinctiveness and singularity of the copy.

a singular copy

Replaces "lone" with "singular", focusing on the uniqueness of the copy.

a sole exemplar

Uses more formal vocabulary to denote the single instance.

a solitary instance

Shifts from "copy" to "instance", broadening the scope beyond physical duplicates.

a lone specimen

Uses "specimen" suggesting something collected as evidence, or to be studied.

FAQs

What does "a lone copy" mean?

The phrase "a lone copy" refers to a single, solitary instance of something, implying that it's the only one of its kind available or existing in a particular context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a lone copy"?

Use "a lone copy" when you want to emphasize the uniqueness or rarity of an item, suggesting that it is the only one available or known to exist. For alternatives consider "a solitary copy" or "the only copy".

What can I say instead of "a lone copy"?

You can use alternatives like "a single copy", "the only copy", or "a unique copy" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "a lone copy" differ from "a single copy"?

"A single copy" simply denotes one copy out of potentially many, while "a lone copy" emphasizes its isolation or uniqueness. It implies there are no other copies readily available or known. You can also say "a solitary copy".