a single opportunity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a single opportunity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to one chance or possibility to do something. Example: "This is a single opportunity to showcase your talents to the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

"If they find a single opportunity, they will take it".

The New York Times

A single opportunity to make history is surprising enough but to have two reflects the fact that Britain's cyclists have achieved almost total dominance in track cycling.

The Guardian - Sport

"We don't intend to leave a single opportunity on the table," said Ken Spain, a spokesman for the Republican congressional committee.

The New York Times

"I wouldn't want to pass up a single opportunity for the president to do the right thing for the country," he said.

The New York Times

Clinton has made sure that she is everywhere that black women are, pushing uncomfortably hard to demonstrate that she is an ally – televised black award shows, black hosted podcasts, weighing in on the impact of Beyoncé's Lemonade – while Sanders, a former civil rights activist, hasn't wasted a single opportunity to remind everyone of that.

The Guardian - Opinion

Lest she miss a single opportunity to exploit her fading celebrity, she wears an Olympic warmup jacket day and night, making it less of a conscious sartorial choice and more an innate facet of her being, like Mickey Mouse's shorts, or Fred Flintstone's tie.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

There is no established standard for placing FM prior to room occupancy or immediately prior to PDC; prior studies have been conducted using both time points [ 13, 15, 21, 22], and a patent for a commonly used FM product states that evaluation may take place "after a single cleaning opportunity or multiple cleaning opportunities" [ 23].

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control

Even though can buffer all the bundles received by in the 3 transmissions, it then has only one opportunity to send them to and thus the temporal sequence of links gives rise to a single contact opportunity from to.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Glancing often at the two Democrats, he vowed that "this isn't a single photo opportunity" but the first step in building a working relationship.

The New York Times

"Note: The entire Suitland complex could be a single naming opportunity, or it could be broken into pieces," the list says, citing the Child Care Center, the parking lot and the Fumigation Facility.

The New York Times

Owen did not have a single meaningful opportunity in front of the watching England manager, Fabio Capello, who has not included him in his recent plans, during Sunday's 1-0 defeat aTottenhamam.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a single opportunity" when emphasizing the limited nature and importance of a specific chance. It's effective for conveying urgency or the significance of making the most of a unique situation.

Common error

Avoid using "a single opportunity" in contexts where multiple chances are available or the situation is not particularly critical. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a single opportunity" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or preposition in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

35%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a single opportunity" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the limited and often critical nature of a specific chance. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While alternatives like "a unique opportunity" or "a golden opportunity" can be used, it's important to consider the specific nuance you wish to convey. Avoid overuse to maintain the phrase's impact and ensure your writing remains clear and effective. Remember to adapt your language to the context and audience for the best results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a unique opportunity

Emphasizes the special and rare nature of the opportunity.

a golden opportunity

Highlights the value and potential benefit of the opportunity.

a rare opportunity

Focuses on the infrequency and scarcity of the opportunity.

a one-time opportunity

Stresses that the opportunity will not be available again.

a limited opportunity

Implies that the opportunity is available for a short duration.

an exclusive opportunity

Suggests that the opportunity is not available to everyone.

a solitary chance

Emphasizes that there is only one chance available.

a fleeting opportunity

Indicates that the opportunity may disappear quickly if not acted upon.

a window of opportunity

Uses a metaphor to suggest a limited time frame for the opportunity.

a slim chance

Highlights how small the possibility is.

FAQs

How can I use "a single opportunity" in a sentence?

You can use "a single opportunity" to emphasize the importance of a unique chance. For example, "This competition is "a single opportunity" to showcase your skills to potential employers".

What can I say instead of "a single opportunity"?

You can use alternatives like "a unique opportunity", "a golden opportunity", or "a rare opportunity" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the single opportunity"?

While grammatically correct, "the single opportunity" implies there is only one known opportunity. "A single opportunity" is more general and suggests just one among potentially many.

What's the difference between "a single opportunity" and "every opportunity"?

"A single opportunity" refers to one specific chance, whereas "every opportunity" means all possible chances. For example, "I seized "a single opportunity" to impress my boss," versus "I try to seize every opportunity to learn new skills."