every second one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every second one" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means every other one or every alternate one. Example: "Please put away every second book on the shelf, we need to make room for new ones." (meaning every other book should be removed).

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"And more or less every second one had his name on it".

The New York Times

Polos were launched in 1948 and 38m are produced every day, with more than 140 consumed every second, one in five of them spearmint flavoured.

The Guardian

I cherish the watch, which carries on its dial, instead of the usual small hand, the silhouette of a minuscule locomotive pulling three coaches and advancing every second, one notch at a time.

The New Yorker

What makes these windows even more special is the fact that the view through them changes every second: one minute it's the electric buzz of Elephant and Castle, the next time I look up, I'm in the shadows of the glorious South Bank and Big Ben.

The Guardian

Silicon Valley companies — every second one seemingly started by a Harvard University dropout (Microsoft founder Bill Gates; Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg) — are not only reinventing how businesses are run, they are also leveraging their success to breathe new life into how philanthropies are run and how governments should be run.

BBC

More than 16,000 plastic bottles are bought around the world every second, one million a minute.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It seems like every third one is a gay couple.

The New York Times

About every tenth one is spicy hot, which only adds to the fun.

The New York Times

In the old town, every building seems to house a dozen storeys, and every third one seems to be crumbling.

The Guardian - Travel

"The buyers will come, just as the leaves will sprout, the roses bud, the waves roll in every few minutes, every seventh one greater than the others".

The New York Times - Arts

Even if not every CD you own is present in one of these databases, typing in the details for every hundredth one or so is a small chore, made easier by knowing that you are helping every other owner.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "every second one" when you want to clearly indicate that you are referring to elements in a series, skipping one element each time.

Common error

Avoid using "every second one" when you intend to refer to approximately half of a group without the constraint of a precise sequence. In these cases, use "about half" or "approximately 50%" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every second one" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun either explicitly stated or implied. It indicates a specific selection pattern within a sequence, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "every second one" is a grammatically sound determiner phrase, used to specify a selection pattern of skipping one item in a sequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid in English writing. While not as common as some alternatives like "every other one", it is versatile enough for use in various contexts, especially in News & Media and Science, as evidenced by the variety of sources provided by Ludwig. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the intent of selecting every other item and not simply approximating half of a group. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every other one

Specifies that the selection happens with an interval of one.

every alternate one

Emphasizes that the selection happens by skipping one.

every second item

Replaces 'one' with 'item' to refer to objects.

each second one

Uses 'each' instead of 'every' to highlight individual instances.

every second instance

Replaces 'one' with 'instance' to apply to occurences.

every next one

Highlights that it's the next after skipping one.

each subsequent one

Highlights that it's each one following another.

every following one

Focuses on the concept of the next one in sequence.

each succeeding one

Highlights the idea of sequence and succession.

alternating ones

Uses a gerund to describe items taken in turns.

FAQs

How can I use "every second one" in a sentence?

Use "every second one" to indicate selecting every other item in a sequence. For example, "Take "every second one", starting with the first."

What is a similar expression to "every second one"?

A similar expression is "every other one", which has the same meaning and is frequently used in similar contexts.

Is there a difference between "every second one" and "every third one"?

Yes, "every second one" means selecting every other item, while "every third one" means selecting every third item in a sequence.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "every second one"?

"Every second one" is appropriate when precision is needed in specifying the selection of alternate items. For example, you might use it in instructions such as "Color "every second one" blue."