certain ones are

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certain ones are" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to specific items or individuals within a larger group, indicating that some of them possess a particular quality or characteristic. Example: "In the study, certain ones are more effective than others in achieving the desired results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Certain ones are like art.

The New York Times

I am an avid user of emoji and even after years of entering emoji, I still can't remember where certain ones are," he says.

TechCrunch

Companies are getting funded left and right, new ones are popping up daily, and certain ones are seemingly starting to take off.

TechCrunch

In non-stoichiometric samples, there is a great diversity of chain segment situations since certain ones are directly connected to the crosslinks whereas others are relatively far away.

Polymer

Much has to do with your major - certain ones are in demand, while others are in oversupply.

Huffington Post

Using too many products often leads to irritation and can potentially cause ingredients to inactivate, since certain ones are not meant to be combined.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

I desperately wanted a baby and now I was certain one was on the way because I could feel the presence.

Vice

I could not remember where a certain one was blossoming and what kind of gentle fragrance it had given me.

The Guardian

In fact, in a practical RRAM device, the RS process is very complicated, with multiple mechanisms simultaneously existing, but a certain one is predominant.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The more certain one is about the prior, the smaller the variance, and hence more peaked the posterior will be (cf. Figures 2d and 2e).

Child Development

The sums S 1 ( d, c ) (and certain related ones) are sometimes called Hardy sums.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "certain ones are" to clearly distinguish a subset within a larger group when you want to highlight specific characteristics or attributes that only some members possess.

Common error

Avoid using "certain ones are" when you intend to refer to all members of a group. This phrase is meant to be selective, so using it broadly can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain ones are" functions as a qualifying phrase. It singles out specific items or individuals from a larger group based on a shared attribute or condition. Ludwig provides examples showing it used to distinguish particular items within a broader category.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "certain ones are" serves as a qualifying phrase to specify a subset within a larger group, indicating that only these selected items or individuals possess a particular attribute or characteristic. While grammatically correct and versatile across various contexts, as Ludwig AI confirms, it appears most frequently in news and media, as well as scientific writing. Alternatives such as ""some of them are"" and ""particular ones are"" offer subtle variations in emphasis, enhancing clarity and precision in your writing. Remember to use it selectively to avoid overgeneralizations and maintain the intended focus on the specific subset.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some of them are

Replaces "certain" with "some", indicating a non-specific subset.

a few of them are

Emphasizes a smaller quantity than "certain ones".

particular ones are

Substitutes "certain" with "particular", highlighting a specific selection.

specific ones are

Similar to "particular", but emphasizes the defined nature of the selection.

some individuals are

Replaces "ones" with "individuals", suitable when referring to people.

certain items include

Restructures the phrase to focus on inclusion rather than existence.

selected few are

Implies a deliberate choice of a limited number of items.

not all of them are

Expresses a contrast, indicating that some do not possess a certain attribute.

a proportion of them are

Introduces a sense of scale or percentage.

a number of them are

Indicates an unspecified quantity, often more than just a few.

FAQs

How can I use "certain ones are" in a sentence?

Use "certain ones are" to indicate that some, but not all, members of a group share a particular characteristic. For example, "Among the applicants, certain ones are exceptionally qualified."

What are some alternatives to "certain ones are"?

You can use alternatives like "some of them are", "a few of them are", or "particular ones are" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "certain ones are" and "some of them are"?

"Certain ones are" and "some of them are" are quite similar. "Certain" might imply a more deliberate or specific selection, while "some" is more general.

When is it appropriate to use "certain ones are" instead of "all of them are"?

Use "certain ones are" when you want to specify that only a subset of the group possesses a particular quality. If all members possess the quality, "all of them are" is the correct choice.