at one go

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at one go" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is done in a single attempt or without interruption. Example: "She managed to complete the entire project at one go, impressing her team with her efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

On my first day in the organisation I was asked if I wanted to see a broadcast and I asked to watch The World at One go out on Radio 4. The senior editor that day was Tony Hall".

The Guardian

Everything has to be done thoroughly to make sure it works, so only handfuls of fans were let through at one go to climb the steps on the outside of the stadium to get to the concourses and their seats inside.

BBC

"At one point I had to drink an entire bottle at one go.

The Guardian

"We can now do huge chunks of radio bandwidth all at one go," he said.

The Guardian

Vicki Mortimer's incredible, comprehensively realised set is also hard to absorb at one go.

The Guardian

Today one can buy a houseful of furniture there at one go.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

A total of 29 tight clusters have at least one GO category overrepresented at the 0.05 significance level (corrected P-values).

Bioinformatics

For GO assignment, we retained the first hit with at least one GO annotation among the top five hits.

BMC Biology

A total of 34 676 (64.9%) transcripts were assigned at least one GO term, among which 31 250 were assigned at least one GO term in biological process category, 31 598 in molecular function category and 30 264 in cellular component category.

DNA Research

Based on sequence homology, 9,831 genes were assigned at least one GO term, including 49 second-level functional categories.

BMC Genomics

GO annotation assigned at least one GO term for 63.1% (776) of all SSH ESTs.

BMC Plant Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at one go" to emphasize efficiency or the completion of a task in a single, uninterrupted effort. For example: "She read the entire report "at one go", which helped her grasp the key details quickly."

Common error

Avoid using "at one go" in highly formal writing, such as academic papers or official reports, where more precise or sophisticated language might be expected. Alternatives like "in a single attempt" or "simultaneously" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at one go" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate how an action is performed. Ludwig examples show it describes completing something in a single attempt. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "at one go" is a useful and accepted idiom for describing completing a task or action in a single, uninterrupted attempt. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While it is most frequently encountered in news and media sources, its usage spans various contexts, though more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional writing. Consider alternatives like "in one fell swoop" or "all at once" depending on the desired nuance. When writing, aim to use it to stress the efficiency or single-step nature of an action, while avoiding it in overly formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in one go

A shorter, more concise version of the original phrase, maintaining the same meaning.

in one fell swoop

This alternative implies a complete and sudden action, often with a sense of finality.

all at once

This phrase emphasizes the simultaneous nature of an action or event.

in a single attempt

This alternative highlights the effort to complete something in just one try.

in a single action

Highlights that something is accomplished with a single, decisive move.

at once

This is a simpler form, suggesting immediacy and simultaneity.

in one session

Similar to "in one sitting", but more general, applicable to various activities.

in one sitting

Implies completing something, like reading or eating, without interruption.

all at the same time

This phrase stresses that everything occurs concurrently.

simultaneously

Emphasizes the concurrent occurrence of actions.

FAQs

How can I use "at one go" in a sentence?

You can use "at one go" to describe doing something in a single attempt or without interruption, such as, "He tried to solve all the problems "at one go"".

What are some alternatives to "at one go"?

Some alternatives to "at one go" include "in one fell swoop", "all at once", or "in a single attempt".

Is "at one go" formal or informal?

The phrase "at one go" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. It's acceptable in many contexts, but more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or highly professional settings.

What's the difference between "at one go" and "at once"?

"At one go" typically means doing something completely in a single action, while "at once" usually implies immediacy or simultaneity. For example, "They tried to fix all the issues "at one go"" versus "Please come here "at once"".