a one time occurrence

USAGE SUMMARY

"a one time occurrence" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase whenever you want to refer to something that happened once and is unlikely to happen again, such as "This was a one time occurrence and it will not happen again".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

This isn't a one time occurrence.

Huffington Post

I would have thought that this was OK if it was a one time occurrence.

Vice

Although the actual dollars involved in this Goldman Sachs fiasco, as counted so far, by comparison to the US economy, is small, the horrendous implication is that this fraud by Goldman is not a one time occurrence.

Huffington Post

While speculation exists that "Deflate Gate" was a one time occurrence, data I introduced last week indicated that the phenomena MAY have been an ongoing, long standing issue for the New England Patriots.

Huffington Post

The Chicago Tribune reported that the Department of Human Rights received a complaint in November from sales representative Montrelle Reese, who said one of his supervisors used the N-word around black employees -- and it was not a one time occurrence.

Huffington Post

This was considerably more work than would have been required with pooled F1 samples but, because worm libraries were frozen, the extra work was a one time occurrence and greatly simplified identification of thawed mutants.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The district told Newsweek in a statement that it received two complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation from students but insists the Bible reading was a one-time occurrence.

HuffPost

The cost for brands to use the service will depend on either the number of messages sent or whether the promotion was a one-time occurrence, like an event sponsorship, Ms. Lee said.

The New York Times

"This is just a one-time occurrence," he said.

The New York Times

But Straw hinted at the time that the visa might be a one-time occurrence.

The New York Times - Sports

Using condiments to soothe workplace burns is more than just a one-time occurrence at McDonald's.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a one time occurrence", ensure the context clearly indicates that the event is not expected to be repeated. This clarifies its significance and prevents misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid making long-term plans or decisions based solely on a "one time occurrence". Verify if it represents a genuine shift or just a temporary anomaly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a one time occurrence" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig confirms that it is a valid phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a one time occurrence" is used to describe an event that happens only once and isn't expected to repeat. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's frequently found in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts. While synonymous alternatives like "a singular event" or "an isolated incident" exist, remember to clearly define the event as non-recurring to avoid ambiguity. It's important to avoid overgeneralizing based on such occurrences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a singular event

Emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the event.

an isolated incident

Highlights that the event is not part of a pattern or series.

a unique case

Focuses on the distinct and unusual nature of the situation.

a non-recurring event

Stresses that the event is not expected to happen again.

an exceptional circumstance

Indicates that the event occurred under special and unusual conditions.

a freak event

Suggests the event was highly unusual and unexpected.

a rare episode

Implies that the event is infrequent and uncommon.

a solitary instance

Underscores that the event happened only one time.

a one-off situation

This alternative uses simpler words and makes it a casual statement.

an uncommon instance

Highlights the infrequency and abnormality of the event.

FAQs

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

Use "a one time occurrence" to describe an event that happened only once and is unlikely to repeat. For example, "The system error was "a one time occurrence" and has since been resolved".

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

You can use alternatives like "a singular event", "an isolated incident", or "a unique case" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "one-time occurrence" instead of "a one time occurrence"?

Both "a one time occurrence" and "one-time occurrence" are correct. The version with the hyphen, "one-time occurrence", functions as a compound adjective describing the event. The version without the hyphen is also acceptable.

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

"A one time occurrence" refers to something that happens only once, while "a recurring event" refers to something that happens repeatedly. They are opposite in meaning. Check "recurring event" for more details.