in a single shipment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in a single shipment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the delivery of goods or items all at once rather than in multiple deliveries. Example: "We expect all the products to arrive in a single shipment to streamline our inventory process."

✓ Grammatically correct

Unit trains carrying coal

Consolidated product shipments from warehouses

Illegal ivory trade

Shipping samples for analysis

Mail delivery

Exporting whales

Package delivery

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Unit trains generally carry 10,000 to 15,000 tons of coal in a single shipment.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Further consolidation of the process is accomplished by the public warehouse, to which many companies ship their products, and from which a buyer can purchase a wide variety of items in a single shipment.

Britannica

The report explains that vast movements of ivory with tusks of hundreds of elephants in a single shipment are being recorded, pointing towards highly organized and well-funded criminal networks.

Independent

The samples were stored in a freezer at -80°C for a maximum of 10 months at Tartu University Hospital, Estonia and were sent to Tampere University Hospital in a single shipment for further analysis.

Annals of Intensive Care

Up to 5,700 letters might arrive in a single shipment, all of which had to be collected in person from the post office.

Wikipedia

An Icelandic company, Hvalur, caught over a hundred fin whales in 2014, and exported a record quantity of 2071 tonnes in a single shipment in 2014.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In 2014, a single shipment of 30,000 logs was intercepted in Singapore en route from the island.

The Guardian

Thus, the economics of making a large number of shipments must be weighed against the cost of accumulating goods in storage for a single shipment of a large number of items.

Britannica

All animals were purchased in bulk and a single shipment used for each replicate virulence test (Van der Horst Wholesale, St. Marys, Ohio).

Plosone

A record 668 rhinos were killed by poachers in South Africa alone last year, and a single shipment of ivory seized in Malaysia in December weighed almost as much as all the illegally traded ivory since in 2011, which was itself a record year for seizures.

The Guardian

The Sri Lankan government says narcotics are a growing problem in the country and in January this year, authorities seized a cocaine stash worth $108m from a single shipment in the port of Colombo, which is a growing hub for international drug trafficking.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in a single shipment" when you want to emphasize efficiency or cost-effectiveness by combining multiple items or orders into one delivery. This can be particularly effective in contexts like logistics, e-commerce, or supply chain management.

Common error

Avoid using "in a single shipment" when simpler alternatives like "in one delivery" or "together" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or verbose in casual contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in a single shipment" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which something is shipped or delivered. This phrase provides context by specifying that multiple items are sent together, enhancing clarity in logistical or transactional descriptions. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

16%

Science

28%

Less common in

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in a single shipment" is a grammatically sound and useful construction, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as an adverbial phrase, emphasizing the consolidation of items within one delivery. While the phrase enjoys correct usage, it's more suited for formal or technical contexts where precision is valued, such as in news, science, or logistical descriptions. Simpler alternatives like "in one delivery" might be preferable in more casual conversations to avoid sounding overly verbose. As indicated by Ludwig's analysis, the phrase is less commonly used than broader terms, suggesting it's reserved for specific situations requiring clarity about delivery methods.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in one shipment

More concise alternative, omitting 'a'.

in a unique shipment

Emphasizes the uniqueness of the shipment.

in a consolidated shipment

Highlights the act of combining multiple items.

in a combined delivery

Replaces 'shipment' with 'delivery'.

in one consignment

Uses a more formal term for shipment.

all in one delivery

Emphasizes the completeness and singular nature of the delivery.

in a bulk shipment

Highlights the large quantity in the shipment.

as a single consignment

Highlights the consignment form.

in one lot

Short and emphasizes the unified collection of the items.

in a solitary shipment

Emphasizes the isolation of the shipment.

FAQs

How can I use "in a single shipment" in a sentence?

You can use "in a single shipment" to describe the consolidation of items for delivery, as in, "We received all the ordered parts "in a single shipment", which greatly simplified the assembly process."

What are some alternatives to "in a single shipment"?

Alternatives include "in one shipment", "in one delivery", or "as a single consignment" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "in a single shipment" and "in one shipment"?

While both phrases are similar, "in a single shipment" can emphasize the deliberate consolidation into one shipment, while "in one shipment" is a more concise and neutral way to express the same idea.

When is it appropriate to use "in a single shipment" instead of more straightforward terms like "together"?

Use "in a single shipment" when the context specifically involves the logistics or process of shipping, and when emphasizing that multiple items or orders are being combined. Otherwise, simpler terms like "together" or "at once" may be more appropriate.