a one time decision

USAGE SUMMARY

"a one time decision" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe an event or action that is expected to happen only once. For example: We had to make a one time decision to close the store due to the pandemic.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The officials emphasized that Mr. Burns's participation was a one-time decision, that he would not meet one-on-one with Mr. Jalili and that he would reiterate the administration's demand that Iran suspend uranium enrichment.

The New York Times

Unlike the Do Not Track signals, which would allow users to make a one-time decision about all online tracking from their own browsers, the industry program requires people to go to a site, where they can opt out of receiving marketing offers from several hundred companies based on data-mining.

The New York Times

By being single-act, it is implied that each decision maker (i.e., the leader and the follower) must make a one-time decision.

Complex & Intelligent Systems

"This is a one-time decision… and I think that the crowds will do an excellent job in making that kind of decision".

BBC

That is, they will make a one-time decision that limits them to a better course of action in the future.

Huffington Post

Let me say here I fully believe a marriage can rebound from infidelity if, 1) It is not a repetitive behavior but a one time bad decision and 2) The person who committed the infidelity is willing to deal with the pain and agony they inflicted on the spouse.

Huffington Post

Previous work using normative one time decisions suggests that individual low in NFC process gains and losses differently than those high in NFC and are more susceptible to decision biases.

Personality and Individual Differences

Let and denote, respectively, the false alarm and the missdetection probabilities, when PU detection is carried out just once (i.e., for one-time decision on PU existence).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The Newsboy (Newsvendor) problem is probably the simplest of all stochastic inventory problems, involving a one-time purchase decision and a stochastic sales outcome.

European Journal of Operational Research

Instead of making a one-time bad decision, this Roomba wasn't turning after hitting the wall the last 43 times.

Huffington Post

To overcome this deficiency, the idea of combining SCOS and OACR into one-time decision in one console is first presented in this paper, named Dual Scheduling of Cloud Services and Computing Resources (DS-CSCR).

Computers in Industry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a one time decision" when emphasizing that a decision is made only once and does not establish a precedent or ongoing process.

Common error

Avoid using "a one time decision" when the situation involves repeated or continuous decisions. Ensure the context clearly indicates that the decision is singular and non-recurring.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a one time decision" functions as a noun phrase, where "one-time" acts as a compound adjective modifying the noun "decision". It describes a specific type of decision characterized by its non-repetitive nature. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and highlights an action that is expected to happen only once.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a one time decision" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, employed to describe a singular, non-recurring decision. While its frequency is uncommon, it is found in diverse contexts like news, media, and scientific literature. While it's register is neutral, formal documents might benefit from alternatives like "a singular decision". The phrase serves to emphasize the unique and isolated nature of a particular choice, distinguishing it from ongoing or repetitive actions. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates that the decision is not part of a series or precedent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a single decision

Focuses on the singularity of the decision, emphasizing that it happens only once.

a one-off decision

Uses informal language to describe a decision that is not repeated.

a non-recurring decision

Emphasizes the lack of recurrence of the decision.

a singular decision

Highlights that this is the only decision of its kind.

a unique decision

Stresses the distinct and unrepeatable nature of the decision.

a final decision

Suggests that the decision is not only made once but is also irreversible.

an isolated decision

Indicates that the decision stands alone and is not part of a series.

a conclusive decision

Similar to "final", this implies that the decision is definitive and will not be revisited.

a once-only decision

A slightly more emphatic version of "one time", stressing that it happens just once.

a one-shot decision

Conveys a sense that the decision is being made under specific circumstances that will not be replicated.

FAQs

How can I use "a one time decision" in a sentence?

You can use "a one time decision" to describe a situation where a decision is made once and not repeated, such as "The company made "a one time decision" to offer early retirement packages".

What are some alternatives to "a one time decision"?

Alternatives include "a single decision", "a one-off decision", or "a non-recurring decision". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a one time decision" in formal writing?

Yes, "a one time decision" is acceptable in formal writing, although alternatives like "a singular decision" might sound more sophisticated in some contexts.

What's the difference between "a one time decision" and "a recurring decision"?

"A one time decision" refers to a decision made only once, while "a recurring decision" involves repeated or ongoing choices. For example, choosing a supplier is often "a one time decision", while managing inventory is a recurring decision.