a sole one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sole one" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that there is only one of something, often in contrast to others. Example: "In a world full of options, I found a sole one that truly resonated with me."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Chromosome 3 abnormalities mainly occurred as a component of a complex abnormality (251/300) rather than a sole one (14/300).

Cancer Genetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In his patent, he describes a sport sandal with a hard rubber sole on one side for general wear, and a slip-resistant covering on the other side for wet-weather wear (or for wading in a river or stream).

The New York Times

I think it's a mistake in organizations to oversimplify by conveying a sole focus on one end of the spectrum at the expense of the other for example, "We must deliver short-term results". When you do this, you end up swinging guardrail to guardrail.

Harvard Business Review

Although the most familiar, the wavelet domain is not the sole one in which a hierarchical organization of the transform coefficients is observed.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

If you never created a formal business structure, then by default you have a sole proprietorship (one owner) or general partnership (multiple owners).

Huffington Post

This combination is a broad application area of both technologies, but not the sole one.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

It was an ancestral home of the du Pont family, not the sole one; it was established in 1837, not in 1810; the house was completed in 1839, not in 1837.

The New York Times - Food

Moreover, our method is the sole one that manages to apply significant yet vaguely expressed information such as the period time and uses it in a potent and formal framework including a model of the dynamics.

BMC Systems Biology

The sole on one of Shaughnessy's shoes pulled apart in the third set and she had no spare, so she borrowed a replacement.

The New York Times - Sports

Our study did not evaluate differences between siblings, with a sole focus on the one child present at the parent child school meeting on the study day, so we were unable to examine this effect in our sample.

BMC Public Health

As a sole founder ("one-time entrepreneur, forever entrepreneur," he says), he's bootstrapping the startup for now from his home base in Bangkok, Thailand, and is not in need of outside funding at this time.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sole one" to emphasize that there is just one of something, particularly when contrasting it with multiple other options or possibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "a sole one" when "the only one" or a more descriptive adjective would be more appropriate. Overusing "sole" can make your writing sound repetitive or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sole one" functions as a determiner phrase, emphasizing the singularity of an item or concept. It modifies a noun, specifying that there is only one of that particular entity, distinguishing it from others. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a sole one" is grammatically correct but rarely used. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for emphasizing the singularity of something and stands apart from others. While grammatically sound, consider that alternative phrases like "the only one" or "a single one" might be more common and natural in everyday language. Therefore, while not incorrect, its usage might be more appropriate in formal or literary contexts where the emphasis on singularity adds a distinct tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the only one

Replaces "sole" with "only", emphasizing exclusivity.

a single one

Substitutes "sole" with "single", denoting singularity without additional emphasis.

a unique one

Replaces "sole" with "unique", highlighting distinctiveness.

one and only

Emphasizes the uniqueness and irreplaceability.

a solitary one

Highlights the isolated nature of the item.

a lone one

Similar to "solitary", emphasizes being alone.

just one

Simplifies to express a quantity of one.

one of a kind

Highlights the exceptional and distinct nature.

a particular one

Emphasizes selecting one from a group.

an individual one

Stresses the separate and distinct nature of the item.

FAQs

How can I use "a sole one" in a sentence?

You can use "a sole one" to emphasize that something is the only instance or example of its kind, as in, "Among many options, I found "a sole one" that met all my criteria."

What are some alternatives to "a sole one"?

Alternatives to "a sole one" include "the only one", "a single one", or "a unique one", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a sole one" formal or informal?

"A sole one" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's generally more common in formal writing where emphasis on singularity is required. The context will determine its appropriateness.

What's the difference between "a sole one" and "the only one"?

While both phrases indicate singularity, "the only one" is a more common and widely understood expression. "A sole one" can add a slightly more emphatic or literary tone, highlighting the exclusiveness of the item or option.