first and only visit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first and only visit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone is attending an event or location for the first time and that it will be their only time there. Example: "This is my first and only visit to the museum, and I'm excited to see the exhibits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

In January 1939 the Whitechapel exhibited Picasso's "Guernica" on its first and only visit to Britain.

The New York Times - Arts

The ignition switch was turned by Homer Sr, on his first and only visit to the range.

The Guardian

SIGMUND Freud arrived in Hoboken, N.J., 100 years ago today on his first and only visit to the United States.

The New York Times

Foragers – or my friends and I at any rate – stoop to their task in the shadow of the Papal Cross, erected in 1979 to mark the pope's first and only visit to Ireland.

The Guardian - Travel

By that time, the private sector organized Extreme Programming Brasil'2002, the first agile event in Brazil, which featured Kent Beck's first and only visit to the country.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

His first and only visit was 1974.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

C/2013 A1, like Comet ISON, is a pristine object making its first and probably only visit to the inner solar system.

The Economist

The typical GERD symptoms (heartburn and regurgitation), present in the week before the first (and only) study visit, were recorded in detail by means of specific multiple-choice questions regarding time (daytime and/or nighttime), severity and frequency of occurrence, and the overall evolution of GERD symptoms in the last 12 months.

BMC Gastroenterology

A total of 7917 adult subjects suffering from GERD and presenting at least one typical GERD symptom (i.e., heartburn and/or regurgitation), at least once a week, in the week prior to the first (and only) study visit, were enrolled in the study.

BMC Gastroenterology

Italian anthropologist Giancarlo Scoditti, 60, is the first and only anthropologist to visit Kitawa, which has roughly 1,000 people.

The New Yorker

"We are dying, and you are killing us with inefficiency and bureaucracy," the mayor said at a news conference last September, days before Trump arrived for his first and only post-Maria visit to Puerto Rico.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "first and only visit" to clearly convey that an event or location was experienced once and will not be revisited. This eliminates ambiguity and strengthens your message.

Common error

Avoid using "first and only visit" when the context already implies a single occurrence. For example, saying "It was their visit" is redundant if you've already established they only went once.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first and only visit" functions as a descriptive phrase. It modifies a noun (often a place or event) to indicate that the visit was both the first and the last time someone experienced it. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "first and only visit" is a grammatically sound phrase used to highlight the unique, one-time nature of an experience. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It commonly appears in news and media, science, and wiki contexts to emphasize that something occurred just once and was not repeated. Although it's not particularly frequent, when you want to emphasize the singularity of an experience, this phrase effectively conveys that message. Remember that while useful, it might be redundant in contexts already implying a single occurrence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sole visit

Focuses on the exclusivity of the visit, omitting "first and only" aspect.

single visit

Emphasizes that the visit happened just one time without connoting previous attempts.

one-time visit

Highlights that the visit was a unique event and not a recurring occurrence.

inaugural and final visit

Formal and emphasizes both the beginning and end of visits.

only ever visit

Focuses on the fact that it was the sole visit ever made.

unique visit

Highlights singularity in comparison with other alternatives.

initial and last visit

Emphasizes it being both the start and the finish regarding visits.

once-in-a-lifetime visit

Indicates that the visit is a special and rare occasion.

never to return visit

Emphasizes the absence of future visits.

unrepeated visit

Focuses on lack of repetition.

FAQs

How can I use "first and only visit" in a sentence?

You can use "first and only visit" to describe an event that happened just once. For example, "That was my "first and only visit" to Paris" or "The exhibition marked the artwork's "first and only visit" to the country".

What's a more formal way to say "first and only visit"?

A more formal alternative to "first and only visit" could be "sole visit" or "inaugural and final visit". These options sound more elevated while retaining a similar meaning.

Is it redundant to say "first and only visit ever"?

Yes, adding "ever" to "first and only visit" can be redundant. The phrase "first and only visit" already implies that it's the only time something occurred, so including "ever" doesn't add any significant meaning.

What's the difference between "first and only visit" and "one-time visit"?

"First and only visit" emphasizes that it was both the first time and the last time something happened. "One-time visit" simply means it happened once, without explicitly stating it was also the first time.