a solitary example

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a solitary example" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a single instance or case that stands alone, often to highlight its uniqueness or rarity. Example: "In the study, the researchers found a solitary example of a species that had adapted to extreme conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Of course, she's not a solitary example.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But mighty Tate Modern, for instance, has only a solitary example of his work.

The Guardian - Arts

The longest homomym is a solitary example found at k = 7 but they appear to be plentiful at k = 6.

Bioinformatics and Biology Insights

A solitary example from the C haplogroup was identified on the CCGA background and this particular chromosome was also unique in terms of its microsatellite composition.

Human Mutation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Most importantly, the FTC could not actually give a single solitary example of a harm related to any of the privacy policies.

TechCrunch

University of Maryland sports economists Dennis Coates and University of Alberta Brad R. Humphreys studied stadium funding over 30 years and failed to find one solitary example of a sports franchise lifting or even stabilizing a local economy.

Huffington Post

During a rare underwhelming gig on the Smiths' Meat Is Murder tour, the singer departed the stage after being hit in the face by a string of sausages, in perhaps the solitary example in history of someone combining at least a degree of satirical intent with the more earthy activity of lobbing things at people.

The Guardian - Music

That habit had long died out; but as a resident of Birmingham ("village of Beorma's people") for most of her life, she liked to think that Spaghetti Junction, the giant intersection of roads just north of the city, was a solitary modern example of the will of the people expressed in a name.She was less egalitarian when it came to the business of sorting out what names meant.

The Economist

The solitary example of positive IHC in this series was seen in a mixed müllerian tumour with sarcomatous differentiation and was not accompanied by MDM2 DNA amplification.

British Journal of Cancer

R&B isn't quite as staggeringly strange and futuristic as it seemed at the start of the noughties: in perhaps the decade's solitary example of genuinely odd and innovative music that wasn't by Radiohead finding a mass audience, producers Timbaland, the Neptunes and Rodney Darkchild Jerkinsns competed to see who could make the weirdest-sounding No 1 single.

The Guardian

As previously stated, all images used within our assessments are taken from our online histology tutorials, which include multiple images of each cell or tissue type, so that students do not simply rely on memorisation of solitary examples.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a solitary example" to emphasize the rarity or uniqueness of a particular instance. This phrase is effective when you want to draw attention to something that stands out from the norm.

Common error

Avoid using "a solitary example" when describing something that is relatively common. Using it in such cases can sound overly dramatic or unnatural. Choose simpler alternatives like "one example" or "an example" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a solitary example" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a specific instance that is unique or isolated. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a solitary example" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression, as validated by Ludwig AI. It's employed to underscore the singularity and potential uniqueness of a specific instance. While not exceedingly common, it appears in various reputable sources, including news media and scientific publications. Alternatives include phrases like "a single instance" or "an isolated case". When utilizing "a solitary example", aim to highlight the rarity or exceptional nature of what you are describing, and avoid using it for situations that are already relatively prevalent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a single instance

Emphasizes the singularity of the occurrence, focusing on its 'one-off' nature.

an isolated case

Highlights the separation of the event from others, stressing its lack of connection.

a unique occurrence

Underscores the distinctiveness and rarity of the event.

a lone instance

Similar to 'a single instance', but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the feeling of being alone or isolated.

an exceptional case

Suggests the instance is unusual or deviates from the norm.

a one-off situation

Implies that the event is unlikely to be repeated.

an individual example

Focuses on the distinctness of the example as a separate entity.

a singular instance

Highlights the fact that there is only one instance and likely none like it.

a rare example

Indicates the infrequency or scarcity of the example.

an uncommon case

Suggests that the occurrence is not typical or frequently encountered.

FAQs

How can I use "a solitary example" in a sentence?

Use "a solitary example" to highlight a unique occurrence. For example, "The researcher found "a solitary example" of the mutation in the entire data set".

What phrases are similar to "a solitary example"?

Alternatives include "a single instance", "an isolated case", or "a unique occurrence". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "a solitary example" or "a single example"?

While both are correct, "a solitary example" emphasizes the uniqueness or isolation of the instance, while "a single example" is more neutral. Use "a solitary example" when you want to highlight the rarity or exceptional nature of the example.

What's the difference between "a solitary example" and "an isolated example"?

"A solitary example" emphasizes the singleness and potential uniqueness of the item. "An isolated example" highlights its separation from other similar items. Both convey a sense of being alone, but "isolated" focuses more on the detachment.