can be sold separately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be sold separately" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that an item is available for purchase on its own, rather than only as part of a set or package. Example: "The game console comes with two controllers, but additional accessories can be sold separately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Because land and the rights to whatever lies beneath it can be sold separately in North Dakota, only about one in five royalty checks goes to the owner of the land where the oil is being extracted.

The New York Times

With airlines examining every feature of a flight to see if it can be sold separately — what the industry calls unbundling — Mr. Harteveldt said he could see a day when the carriers might sell membership in the elite tiers of their frequent-flier programs, perhaps letting passengers purchase an upgrade from silver to gold status.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Deal sweeteners, such as throwing in a storage unit that could otherwise be sold separately, can also serve to distinguish an apartment.

The New York Times

"You don't get the Kinect with the PS4 - Sony's Eye camera isn't as powerful and may be sold separately - so Microsoft can push the fact its sensor is worth the extra £80," said Stuart Miles, founder of the Pocket-lint gadget review site.

BBC

Food and beverages will be sold separately.

The New York Times

The properties are to be sold separately.

The New York Times

The AOL Time Warner executive said the Braves might be sold separately.

The New York Times

The Solo Gimbal will be sold separately for $399.

TechCrunch

Each could be sold separately.

Huffington Post

The certificates can be sold by the renewable power plant separately from the physical electricity.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

The monthly TiVo service for updated TV listings is sold separately: you can pay a one-time fee of $299 for the life of the unit or a monthly charge of $13.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing product options, clearly state that certain items "can be sold separately" to avoid customer confusion about what is included in the base price.

Common error

Avoid assuming customers know items "can be sold separately". Explicitly state it, especially when similar products are often bundled.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be sold separately" functions as a descriptive modifier, indicating that an item or component is not necessarily included with a main product or service and is available for individual purchase. It specifies the terms of sale, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be sold separately" is used to clarify that an item is available for individual purchase, rather than being included as part of a package or set. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, including news, science, and general informational content. When writing product descriptions or service agreements, it is crucial to explicitly state when items "can be sold separately" to avoid confusion and provide clarity to potential customers. Alternatives such as ""available for individual purchase"" and ""sold individually"" can be used to convey the same meaning. Ensure that the availability of separate items is clearly communicated to prevent misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

available for individual purchase

Emphasizes the availability of buying something on its own.

sold individually

Highlights that items are sold one at a time, not in groups.

can be purchased separately

Focuses on the act of buying items independently.

offered as a standalone product

Indicates that a product is available on its own, not bundled.

available as a separate item

Specifies that something can be obtained as an individual article.

not included, sold separately

Clarifies that an item is not part of a main package and must be bought independently.

available for separate acquisition

Uses more formal language to indicate independent availability.

sold a la carte

Borrowed from culinary terms, meaning items are priced and sold individually.

marketed as individual components

Focuses on how products are marketed for independent purchase.

distributed as single units

Indicates that items are distributed and sold one by one.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "can be sold separately"?

It means the item is available for purchase individually, and not only as part of a package or set.

What's an alternative to saying items "can be sold separately"?

You can use phrases like "available for individual purchase" or "sold individually" to convey the same meaning.

How can I emphasize that an item is not included and "can be sold separately"?

You can state "Not included, "sold separately"" to clearly indicate it requires a separate purchase.

In what contexts is it important to clarify that something "can be sold separately"?

It's important in sales, product descriptions, and service agreements where components or options are not automatically included and require individual purchase.