a only one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a only one" is not correct in written English.
It is incorrect because "a" should not be used before "only one," as "one" already implies singularity. Example: "He is the only one who can solve this problem."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

A: Only ONE of you should submit your project via Qt Creator; please clearly mark at the top of the files in the project that you are both working in a pair.

Stanford University

A: Only one concert we've done was a band from Brazil.

TechCrunch

A: Only ONE? Wow.

Huffington Post

Despite a few misconceptions regarding healthful eating (online appendix A), only one child believed it was more healthful to limit fiber consumption.

Diabetes Care

Rule "A": Only one reagent targeting a gene need to be a "hit" for the gene to be called a "hit".

BMC Genomics

The study population comprised three different subgroups: group A: only one eye was operated (n = 87), group B: both eyes were operated during the follow-up (n = 73), and group C: first eye had been operated earlier, now the second eye was operated (n = 59).

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Of the three samples positive by IF but negative by MT-PCR for INF-A, only one could be confirmed on repeat testing.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Obviously, almost all above-mentioned changes occurred during ITS2 evolution of the Ulvales, mostly with high overall frequencies, except for 5'-U-G-3' ⇒ U-A (only one case), 5'-A-U-3' ⇒ G-U (only one case) and the reverse change (5'-G-U-3' ⇒ A-U, no case; Figure 7).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

This process is repeated until achieving an only one population with 100 MDs as maximum.

Journal of Cheminformatics

But just to make sure, this week, for a only-one-night event, the UCLA Game Lab teams up with the Hammer Museum to offer the UCLA Game Art Festival, the fourth edition of the event bringing LA the year's best in experimental gaming creations.

Vice

A lowercase A inspired 16 variations, a period only one.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "a only one" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "only one" or "just one" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

The article "a" is typically used before singular countable nouns when they are not specific. However, using "a" before "only one" is redundant because "one" already indicates singularity. Therefore, omit "a" to form a correct phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a only one" functions as a determiner phrase intended to specify a singular quantity. However, it's grammatically flawed due to the unnecessary article "a". As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a only one" appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect due to the redundant use of the article "a". The phrase is intended to emphasize singularity, but it is better to use alternatives like "only one" or "just one" for improved clarity and grammatical accuracy. It's best to avoid using "a only one" in formal writing to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just one

Replaces "a only one" with a simpler and more direct expression of singularity.

only a single

Emphasizes the singularity by using "single" instead of "one", but keeps the article.

a solitary

Conveys the sense of being alone or isolated, similar to "only one" but with a slightly different connotation.

precisely one

Highlights accuracy and exactness in quantity.

uniquely one

Focuses on the uniqueness of a single item or instance.

but one

Implies that there is only one exception.

one and only

This phrase emphasizes that something is not only the only one but it is special or unique.

a unique

Highlights the uniqueness or rarity of something.

a lone

Emphasizes the isolation and lack of companionship.

solely one

Emphasizes exclusivity or the fact that something is exclusively one.

FAQs

Why is "a only one" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "a only one" is grammatically incorrect because the article "a" is redundant before "only one", as "one" already indicates a singular quantity. Using "only one" is sufficient and correct.

What are some alternatives to "a only one" that I can use in my writing?

Instead of "a only one", you can use phrases like "just one", "only a single", or simply "only one" depending on the context.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "a only one"?

While grammatically incorrect, "a only one" might be found in informal speech or writing, or in contexts where grammatical precision is not strictly enforced. It is advisable to avoid using it in formal or academic writing.

How does using "only one" instead of "a only one" improve clarity in my writing?

Using "only one" instead of "a only one" eliminates redundancy and makes your writing more concise and grammatically sound. This enhances clarity and professionalism.