but not singly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but not singly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is applicable in a group or collectively, but not when considered individually. Example: "The team can work on the project collaboratively, but not singly, as the tasks require diverse skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This finding strongly supports our conclusion that cofilin clusters, but not singly or sparsely bound cofilin molecules, accelerate severing of the filaments.

eLife

Dissaving may also capture financial distress that is not reflected in cost-income ratios, for example when households face multiple illnesses that are catastrophic together but not singly [ 6].

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In October 1639, Horrocks had calculated that transits of Venus occur not singly, but in pairs eight years apart, and realised that the second transit would occur in less than four weeks.

Wikipedia

In this harmonious bird scene, the unknown artist injects a measure of Confucian values, the need for each creature to act not singly but in connection with others, through five relationships: parent-child, husband-wife, sibling-sibling, friend-friend, ruler-subject, in networks of individual persons, the family, the state, the universe (8 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Anti-relativist philosophers of science are often willing to concede all three points above, but insist that they do not, singly or jointly, justify the claim that scientific knowledge, in any philosophically interesting sense, is relative to its context of production.

SEP

As to the argument of the "intellectual" that that New York chambermaids arrive in brigades, not singly, words fail me but not this columnist.

The Economist

In the triply n/i/eNOS−/− mice, but not in singly eNOS−/− mice, several cardiovascular phenotypes, including arteriosclerosis/atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and dyslipidemia, have been described.

Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Dragic and co-workers have additionally demonstrated that CCR5 N-terminal peptides bearing sTyr residues at positions 10 and 14 (but not the singly sulfated variants) were capable of binding gp120-CD4 complexes.

ACS Chemical Biology

Because temporary wetlands function as integral landscape components, not singly as isolated entities, their cumulative loss is ecologically detrimental yet not currently part of the conservation calculus.

Biological Conservation

Things that should not singly impress you enough to choose them: they train celebrities, they are over-booked, they have a terrific physique (although, they should take care of their appearance), they are too aggressive or you cannot walk the next day.

Huffington Post

Furthermore, the molecules in signaling pathways are not singly linked to each other.

Cancer and Metastasis Reviews

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but not singly" to emphasize that a characteristic or action applies to a group or system rather than individual components. For instance, "The symptoms are catastrophic together, but not singly."

Common error

Avoid using "but not singly" when you intend to emphasize individual exceptions within a group. "The team members were effective, but not singly" implies none were effective alone, which may not be the intended meaning if some team members were indeed individually productive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but not singly" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. It connects two contrasting ideas, emphasizing that something is true collectively or in combination, but not when considered individually. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but not singly" serves as a formal connective, emphasizing that something is true in combination or as a group, and not when each component is viewed in isolation. As per Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and can be effectively employed to underscore the contrast between individual and collective attributes or actions. While relatively uncommon, it finds its niche in formal and scientific contexts where precision and clarity are paramount. When choosing an alternative, consider "but not individually" for closest meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but not individually

Replaces "singly" with "individually", focusing on the lack of individual application.

but not alone

Emphasizes the absence of being in isolation, similar to not being singly.

but not separately

Highlights that the items or actions are not considered in isolation.

but not in isolation

Focuses on the lack of separation, suggesting a connected or grouped context.

but not on its own

Emphasizes that something does not occur by itself.

but not by itself

Similar to "but not on its own", stressing the absence of independent action.

but not independently

Indicates a lack of autonomy or self-governance in the action or attribute.

but not in isolation

Focuses on the lack of separation, suggesting a connected or grouped context.

but in conjunction

Highlights a combined or cooperative effort as opposed to individual action.

but in combination

Indicates the presence of multiple factors or elements working together.

FAQs

What does "but not singly" mean?

The phrase "but not singly" means that something applies collectively or in a group, rather than to individual items or people. It emphasizes a distinction between individual and group characteristics or actions.

How can I use "but not singly" in a sentence?

You can use "but not singly" to show that a condition or attribute is only present when elements are combined or considered together. For example: "The risks are manageable individually, but not singly."

What are some alternatives to "but not singly"?

Alternatives to "but not singly" include "but not individually", "but not separately", or "but not alone". These phrases all convey a similar idea of collective versus individual application.

Is "but not singly" formal or informal?

The phrase "but not singly" is generally considered formal. More informal alternatives might include "but not by themselves" or "but not on their own".