but one one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but one one" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be a typographical error or a misunderstanding of a phrase. Example: "There were many options available, but one one stood out as the best choice."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Being quick of mind but quicker of hand, I taped four of them (that is, stuck them on Scotch tape, not shot them on video tape), but one, one darned and antagonistic bedbug scooted away.

Huffington Post

An additional three patients were entered at dose level 5 (40 mg m−2 b.i.d. S-1 plus 35 mg m−2 docetaxel), but one (one out of six) experienced a DLT (gastric perforation at the tumour site on the first day of the first cycle).

British Journal of Cancer

Looking out over the cemetery he was about to ask "That where you burry your mistakes, Doctor?" but one one look at his fathers face told him that he had sensed the question, as if he were going to give an answer.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

119th over: South Africa 502-2 (Smith loads, Dippenaar a few) A couple of tickled singles off Gough's over the last-but-one one before lunch.

The Guardian - Sport

Sign up for the Butt oneVICE, delivered tonyone inbox daily.

Vice

But it can certainly affect one, one fine day.

Troubleshooting Switching Power Converters A Hands-on Guide

But one-on-one, and in small groups, he's a lot more engaging and animated.

The New Yorker

London has its fair share of adequate Chinese restaurants but few exemplary ones – ones that match quantity and finesse.

Independent

All but one suggested one-on-one, in-person counseling as a more appropriate method.

Forbes

Currently they are working with sellers one-one-one, but will eventually launch a self service store creator.

TechCrunch

She was wonderful one on one, but very private.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid repeating "one" directly after "but" as it often creates redundancy. Review your sentence to ensure clarity and conciseness by removing the extra word.

Common error

Ensure that you're not unintentionally repeating words. In most contexts, "but one" is sufficient. Repeating "one" immediately after "but" adds no additional meaning and can make your writing appear less polished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but one one" functions as a conjunction phrase intending to introduce a contrast or exception. However, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the redundant repetition of "one", as indicated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but one one" aims to express an exception or contrast, but is considered grammatically incorrect because of the redundant repetition of the word "one". Ludwig AI identifies it as an incorrect expression. While present in some news and scientific sources, it's best replaced with more grammatically sound alternatives such as "but one", "only one", or "just one" to ensure clarity and maintain credibility in writing. When in doubt, always opt for conciseness and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but one

Simply removes the unnecessary second 'one', making the phrase grammatically correct.

but only one

Emphasizes the singularity of the item or instance, correcting the repetition.

but just one

Replaces the redundancy with a simple, direct emphasis on 'one'.

but a single one

Emphasizes the singularity using 'single' to replace the duplicated 'one'.

however, only one

Uses 'however' to introduce a contrast and corrects the redundant 'one'.

yet only one

Similar to 'however, only one', it uses 'yet' to create a contrast.

though just one

Expresses a concession while emphasizing singularity.

although only one

Similar to "though just one", but with a slightly more formal tone.

but uniquely one

This version uses "uniquely" to emphasize that it is special.

nevertheless, only one

Expresses contrast with an additional emphasis on singularity.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "but one" in a sentence?

Use "but one" to indicate an exception or contrast. For example, "Many applied, "but one" was chosen".

Is "but one one" grammatically correct?

No, "but one one" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the unnecessary repetition of "one". It's better to use "but one".

What's a more formal alternative to "but one"?

Formal alternatives include "however, only one" or "nevertheless, only one", which provide a more sophisticated way to express contrast while maintaining grammatical correctness.

When is it appropriate to use "but one"?

It is appropriate when you want to indicate that there is a single exception or unique item among many. It sets up a contrast, like in the sentence: "All tried their best, "but one" failed".