first time and only time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first time and only time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an event or experience occurred once and will not happen again. Example: "I visited that city for the first time and only time last summer, and it was an unforgettable experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

AWARDS For the first time and only time, all four actors were nominated for a Tony.

The New York Times

"And on that day, that's the first time and only time he ever got upset with me.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Koufax also won the Hickok Belt a second time, the first (and only) time anyone had won the belt more than once.

Wikipedia

And now, for the first time — the only time, the last time before it's all exported — Bobby Bison, the King of Nostalgia, is making available selections from your own personal memory!

The New Yorker

And also from a character point of view, because for the first time, the only time in the movie, Philip is the insecure one and Ethan is the secure one.

Huffington Post

"That was the first and only time I played Pete, and my first time on Centre Court," Federer told me last April, when I talked with him in Miami.

The New Yorker

Try to make the first time the only time.

WikiHow

It is the first time, and usually the only time, a horse runs that far, and it is aptly named the Test of the Champion.

The New York Times - Sports

There was even times when I used to mail a package full of Detroit records and CDs to the BBC Radio offices in care of Benji B, and he would end up playing a few of them on-air, and many instances that would actually end up being the first time (and for some the only time) they would get airplay outside of Detroit, let alone otuside the country.

HuffPost

For instance, we must determine the iterator vectors in the loop nests when a disjoint lattice is accessed for the first time and for the last time.5 Only afterwards, we compute the clock cycles during the code execution corresponding to those iterator vectors.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

It had been a fluke that she'd turned up at his place the first time, and the second time was due only to her not knowing where else to go.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "first time and only time" when you want to emphasize the uniqueness and non-repeatability of an event or experience. It adds a sense of finality and singularity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "first time and only time" repetitively in close proximity. If you need to express a similar idea, opt for alternatives like "unique occurrence" or "one-time event" to maintain variety and interest in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first time and only time" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the frequency or occurrence of an event. It emphasizes the singularity and non-repeatability of an action or experience. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "first time and only time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig, to emphasize the singularity and non-repeatability of an event. Its purpose is to highlight that something occurred once and will not happen again. It is suitable for neutral registers, making it versatile for various contexts. To avoid redundancy, it's beneficial to sometimes use alternatives like "unique occurrence" or "sole instance".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one-time event

Simplifies the phrase to indicate an event that happened once.

sole instance

Highlights that there was only one occurrence of the event.

single occasion

Focuses on the event happening on just one occasion.

unique occurrence

Emphasizes the singularity and distinct nature of the event.

isolated incident

Suggests the event was not part of a pattern and occurred alone.

never again

Expresses the intention that something will not be repeated.

unrepeatable event

Focuses on the non-repeatable nature of an event.

last and only

Highlights that this was also the final occurrence

once in a lifetime

Highlights a very exceptional event.

a thing of the past

Highlights the non-repeatable nature of the event.

FAQs

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

You can use "first time and only time" to emphasize a singular experience or event that won't be repeated. For example, "I visited that city for the "first time and only time" last summer."

What phrases are similar to "first time and only time"?

Similar phrases include "sole instance", "unique occurrence", or "one-time event", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "first time and only time" grammatically correct?

Yes, "first time and only time" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe an event that happened once and won't happen again.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "first time and only time"?

Use "first time and only time" when you want to highlight that something occurred uniquely and will not be repeated, adding emphasis to its singularity.