a sole person

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sole person" is correct and can be used in written English.
It typically refers to a single individual, as opposed to a group, family, or collective. For example: "The sole person who attended the meeting was not prepared to make any decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The misreporting occurred because "a sole person had too much authority over reporting," Ms. Gann said.

The New York Times

Family courts lack juries, so such decisions are delivered from the pen of a sole person.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The court-appointed defense lawyers said that short of dismissing the indictment the judge, Leonie M. Brinkema, must bar the government from seeking the death penalty against Mr. Moussaoui, a Frenchman who is the sole person charged in an American court with conspiring in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The New York Times

For an evaluation process, a developer may be the sole person involved and therefore have to do everything.

User Experience Re-Mastered Your Guide to Getting the Right Design

Smash knows it had problems, and it consistently winked at the viewer with knowing jokes about those hideous scarfs, and of turning Julia, a character Rebeck based on herself, into an emotional wreck, a horrible writer and the sole person responsible for Bombshell's bad reviews.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Ms. Hui often shoots Mr. Lau by himself in the frame, alone in his apartment or the sole person in a row of empty airport seats.

The New York Times

As the sole person running a business, it's important to have the tools and capacity to build credibility and increase the visibility of your brand.

Forbes

Specialists indicate that being the sole person responsible for a particular content area within a grade level or team can be challenging because of this lack of opportunity for content collaboration.

International Journal of STEM Education

And to be the sole person on an entire block somehow feels empowering.

The New York Times - Arts

The bulk of my learning occurred when I became a business owner and was the sole person responsible for the company's success and my employees livelihoods.

HuffPost

Don't back yourself into a corner where there is one sole person in your life on whom you rely for everything emotional and/or financial.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sole person" when you want to emphasize that only one individual is involved or responsible, differentiating them from a group or collective. This is most effective in formal or factual contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a sole person" in informal contexts where simpler language like "the only person" or "just one person" would sound more natural. Overly formal phrasing can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sole person" functions as a noun phrase, identifying a single individual. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples where it acts as the subject or object of a sentence, emphasizing individual responsibility or uniqueness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a sole person" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to single out an individual, often emphasizing their unique role or responsibility. Ludwig AI identifies its primary function as highlighting a specific individual in various contexts. While the phrase appears infrequently, it is most commonly found in news and media, with a slightly formal tone. When seeking alternatives, consider options like "a single individual" or "the only person", depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a single individual

Replaces "sole" with "single", emphasizing the individual's status as one.

the only person

Stresses exclusivity; no one else is involved.

one individual

Emphasizes the numerical aspect of there being only one person.

an individual person

Adds redundancy, emphasizing the person's individuality.

a distinct individual

Highlights the person's clear and recognizable identity.

a lone person

Highlights the feeling of being alone or isolated.

a singular person

Emphasizes the exceptional or remarkable nature of the individual.

one unique person

Highlights the distinctiveness of that single person.

a solitary figure

Implies isolation and a sense of being apart from others.

an unaccompanied person

Focuses on the lack of companions or escorts.

FAQs

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

Use "a sole person" when you want to emphasize that there is only one individual involved. For example: "He was "the sole person" responsible for the project's success."

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

"A sole person" emphasizes singularity and often responsibility, while "the only person" simply denotes that no one else is present or involved. The former carries a more formal tone.

Is it better to use "sole person" or "only person"?

It depends on the context. "Sole person" is more formal and often implies responsibility. "Only person" is more general and can be used in various contexts where you want to indicate that no one else is involved.

What are some synonyms for "a sole person"?

Some synonyms include "a single individual", "the only person", or "an individual person", depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.