isolated situation

USAGE SUMMARY

"isolated situation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when someone is in a situation that they cannot escape or get out of. For example: "John found himself in an isolated situation when both his car and his phone died while he was driving through the middle of nowhere."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

This is not an isolated situation.

The Washington Post

"It's an incredibly isolated situation, and there's no way out".

The New Yorker

Nor is the Central Park violence an isolated situation.

The New York Times

"No, I think it's a very much isolated situation," says Solly. "It's just a charge at the moment and Salford have the opportunity to respond.

The Guardian - Sport

As a result of the historically isolated situation of Sindh in the lower Indus valley, Sindhi is distinguished within Indo-Aryan by many linguistic features of its own.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(Arabs living within the State of Israel remained in an ambiguous, isolated situation and were regarded with some suspicion by both Israelis and Palestinians).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

C. H. Baseball is lonely — it's a team sport, of course, but it puts each player on the team in difficult, isolated situations.

The New York Times

"They're probably isolated situations, but we are still early in the process with all this work".

TechCrunch

I can tell you ours and theirs are not isolated situations.

Huffington Post

Alleged victims claimed at the time (according to court documents) and recently (in videotapes they recorded) that at various points food, water, and bathroom breaks were withheld; they were given medication that put them to sleep and caused them to vomit; and they were held in frightening, isolated situations.

Huffington Post

When we think about the challenge of being in an isolating situation and how that can really weigh on people's confidence and weigh on people's sense of self-worth and sense of value…a coach can really provide motivation and reinforce confidence…and help you see how to clearly articulate and define your value.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "isolated situation", ensure you clarify why the situation is considered isolated. Providing context helps prevent misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid drawing broad conclusions based solely on an "isolated situation". Recognize that it might not be representative of the overall trend or norm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "isolated situation" functions as a noun phrase where "isolated" modifies "situation". It describes a particular set of circumstances that are not typical or connected to a broader pattern. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "isolated situation" is used to describe a unique or atypical set of circumstances, distinct from broader trends or patterns. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is prevalent in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When using "isolated situation", ensure you provide sufficient context to clarify why the situation is considered isolated and avoid drawing broad conclusions based solely on it. Consider alternatives such as "unique circumstance" or "exceptional event" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

isolated case

Focuses on the singularity of the event, emphasizing that it's not part of a pattern.

unique circumstance

Highlights the distinctiveness and rarity of the situation.

exceptional event

Emphasizes the deviation from the norm, indicating something unusual occurred.

atypical instance

Suggests the situation is not representative or characteristic.

singular occurrence

Points out that the event happened only once and is unlikely to repeat.

one-off event

Informal way to describe an event that happens only once.

rare phenomenon

Implies the situation is uncommon and possibly scientifically interesting.

unprecedented scenario

Highlights that the situation has never happened before.

uncharacteristic event

Stresses that the situation is out of character or not typical.

standalone incident

Emphasizes that the incident is self-contained and not related to other events.

FAQs

How can I use "isolated situation" in a sentence?

You can use "isolated situation" to describe something that is not typical or part of a larger pattern. For example, "The company claims the data breach was an "isolated situation" and not indicative of systemic vulnerabilities".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "isolated situation"?

You can use alternatives like "unique circumstance", "exceptional event", or "atypical instance" depending on the specific context.

Is "isolated situation" a formal or informal phrase?

"Isolated situation" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness largely depends on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of your writing.

When is it appropriate to describe something as an "isolated situation"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that an event or circumstance is not part of a larger pattern, is unique, or is unlikely to be repeated. However, make sure that you can provide sufficient evidence.