just one prosecution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just one prosecution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a single legal case or action taken against someone in a court of law. Example: "Despite the overwhelming evidence, there was just one prosecution in the case of the financial scandal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

We know that 80 suspected drug dealers were arrested on the premises with just one prosecution being made.

Vice

It's an enormous operation for just one prosecution.

The Guardian

MPs were told there had been just one prosecution for tax evasion relating to UK residents hiding assets in Switzerland.

The Guardian

The release of the files has sparked repercussions across the political spectrum and led to calls for a review into the handling of 3,000 suspected tax-evaders by HMRC which has resulted in just one prosecution.

The Guardian - Business

Though there is more money going into criminal investigation, there has been just one prosecution in the UK as a result of Lagarde's list: a multimillionaire property developer called Michael Shanly.

The Guardian - Opinion

He pointed out that detailed information was passed to the coalition government in May 2010 about 1,100 HSBC clients allegedly guilty of tax evasion or avoidance and yet since then there had been just one prosecution.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

(There has been only one prosecution).

The Guardian

The Puerto Rico case is just one of the prosecutions under scrutiny by the House Judiciary Committee.

The New York Times

NO-O The reality is that you can't have just one approach in terms of prosecution.

The Guardian

In a quickly convened overnight proceeding, the prosecution produced just one witness -- who claimed to know nothing about the case -- and Mr. Chamblain was promptly acquitted.

The New York Times

The prosecution of just one person from leaked documents from HSBC's Swiss arm, which appeared to disclose examples of tax evasion, have added to that impression, MPs said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "just one prosecution", ensure the context clearly establishes what the single legal action is in contrast to. Providing specifics about the situation helps to emphasize the rarity or inadequacy of the prosecution.

Common error

Avoid using "just one prosecution" when the situation involves multiple stages of a legal process. The phrase specifically refers to the final act of bringing someone to court, not preliminary investigations or related legal activities.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrase modifying the noun "prosecution." It serves to emphasize the limited quantity of prosecutions. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable, appearing in reliable sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "just one prosecution" is grammatically sound and used to emphasize a surprisingly low number of legal actions, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage is most frequent in news and media, often highlighting discrepancies between expected and actual legal outcomes. While alternatives like "a single prosecution" and "only one prosecution" exist, the core implication of scarcity remains consistent. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the expected level of prosecution to maximize its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a single prosecution

Emphasizes the singularity of the prosecution more directly.

only one prosecution

Synonymous, highlighting the exclusivity and limitation.

merely one prosecution

Adds a sense of insignificance or surprise at the low number.

one solitary prosecution

Emphasizes the isolation and lack of other prosecutions.

a lone prosecution

Highlights the singular nature of the legal action.

just a single case

Replaces 'prosecution' with the more general term 'case'.

a limited number of prosecutions

Focuses on the restricted quantity of legal actions.

one isolated prosecution

Highlights the separation from any other similar actions.

virtually no prosecutions

Expresses that the low number of prosecutions is close to zero.

hardly any prosecutions

Similar to 'virtually no prosecutions', indicating a scarcity.

FAQs

How can I use "just one prosecution" in a sentence?

You can use "just one prosecution" to highlight a surprisingly low number of legal cases compared to expectations or reported incidents. For instance: "Despite numerous complaints, there was "just one prosecution" resulting from the investigation."

What are some alternatives to "just one prosecution"?

Alternatives include "a single prosecution", "only one prosecution", or "a lone prosecution". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "only one prosecution" instead of "just one prosecution"?

Yes, "only one prosecution" is grammatically correct and conveys a similar meaning to "just one prosecution". Both phrases emphasize the limited number of legal actions taken.

What does "just one prosecution" imply?

The phrase "just one prosecution" often implies that the number of prosecutions is surprisingly low, raising questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement or the handling of related cases. It suggests a discrepancy between the expected number of legal actions and the actual outcome.