if only for a single time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if only for a single time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a desire or wish for something to happen, even if just once. Example: "I wish he would visit us, if only for a single time, to see how much we've changed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Individual samples were used only for a single time point and each time point was assayed in quadruplicate.

Biomacromolecules

These techniques measure biomolecular binding only at a single time point and therefore are not useful for real-time monitoring.

Analytical Chemistry

If there is only a single time constant τ one obtains the following model for the LE loss at time t due to a sequence of concentrations {c(t')} between t0 and t where c(t') is the concentration at time t' and k is a proportionality constant.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

If you can wash your hair only a single time per week, all the better.

WikiHow

Half of the regions had two time trends, whereas the other half had only a single time trend for PM2.5.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Individual children come alive, if only for a brief time.

The New York Times - Arts

For disease progression studies using histological examinations, each animal represents only a single time point.

Biomedical Optics Express

We are humbled even if only for a short time.

Huffington Post

For example, they can include a table that documents mouse numbers at different age after birth to demonstrate if there is reduced viability overtime, instead of only giving a statement about a single time point.

eLife

join the loyalty club, even if you're only planning on doing business with the company a single time".

The New York Times

Algorithm 1 returns the overload condition probabilistically only for a single prediction time interval.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "if only for a single time" to express a specific, often heartfelt, desire for something to occur at least once, even if it's unlikely to happen frequently. This conveys a sense of yearning or hope.

Common error

While the phrase is grammatically correct, avoid overusing "if only for a single time" in formal writing. Opt for more concise alternatives like "even if just once" or "at least once" for a stronger impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if only for a single time" functions as a conditional expression expressing a wish or desire. It highlights the longing for something to happen, even if just once. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "if only for a single time" expresses a desire for something to occur at least once. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, though its usage frequency is currently limited. While grammatically sound, consider more concise alternatives, such as "even if just once", particularly in formal contexts. The phrase carries a neutral tone and can be suitable for expressing heartfelt desires in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even if just once

This alternative simplifies the original phrase by focusing on the occurrence happening one time.

even if it's just once

This alternative emphasizes the singularity of the occurence.

if just for one occasion

This alternative replaces "a single time" with "one occasion", emphasizing the singularity of the event.

if only on one occasion

This alternative replaces "a single time" with "one occasion", emphasizing the singularity of the event.

just for once

This alternative is more concise, removing the conditional aspect and focusing on the desire for a single occurrence.

even if only briefly

This alternative shifts the focus to the duration of the event, suggesting it happens for a short period.

if only for a moment

This alternative emphasizes the brevity of the desired occurrence.

if it happened even once

This alternative rephrases the sentiment as a hypothetical event that might occur.

if solely for one instance

This alternative uses more formal language, replacing "only" with "solely" and "time" with "instance".

should it happen once

This alternative creates a more formal and conditional expression.

FAQs

How can I use "if only for a single time" in a sentence?

You can use "if only for a single time" to express a strong desire for something to happen at least once, like: "I wish he would visit us, "if only for a single time", to see how much we've changed."

What are some alternatives to "if only for a single time"?

Alternatives include "even if just once", "if just for one occasion", or "even if only briefly", depending on the context.

Is "if only for once" grammatically correct instead of "if only for a single time"?

While "if only for once" is understandable, it's less common and can sound less natural than ""if only for a single time"" or the simpler ""even if just once"".

What's the nuance between "if only for a single time" and "if only for a moment"?

"If only for a single time" emphasizes the desire for something to occur at least once, whereas "if only for a moment" focuses on the brevity of the desired experience.