not one

USAGE SUMMARY

"not one" is a valid part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe an entity in negative terms, such as in the following example: "Not one student in the entire school passed the math exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

Not One Word".

The New Yorker

Why not, one might ask?

The New York Times

To date, not one has.

The New York Times

It was 2011, not "one year".

The New York Times

The "veteran" is "I," not "one".

The New York Times

Not one individual.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

We're not one-on-one players".

The New York Times - Sports

"We are not one-sided.

The New York Times

But Arkansans are not one-party loyalists.

The Economist

They're not ones for boozy parties.

The Guardian

The relationship was not one-sided.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not one" to emphasize the complete absence of something, especially when a single instance might have been expected.

Common error

Avoid using "not one" when describing qualities that exist on a spectrum. For example, instead of saying "The movie was not one bit entertaining", say "The movie was not at all entertaining" or "The movie was unentertaining".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not one" functions as a determiner or quantifier, expressing a complete absence or negation of a single item or individual from a set. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it serves to emphasize the absence where even a single instance might be expected. This is demonstrated through the examples found in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

15%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not one" is a versatile and common expression used to emphatically negate the existence of even a single item or individual. Grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a determiner or quantifier. The phrase finds its place in various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Academic writing, though it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal settings. When seeking alternatives, consider options like "not a single one" or "absolutely none", adjusting based on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to avoid using "not one" for qualities on a scale, as that's a common misuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not a single one

Emphasizes the singularity and absence of even a single instance.

not even one

Highlights the unexpected absence of something, even in a minimal quantity.

absolutely none

Stresses a complete absence, providing a stronger negative assertion.

not any

Indicates that there is no quantity or instance of something, providing a general negative statement.

zero

Provides a quantifiable absence, used when the absence is numerical.

no one

Focuses on the absence of people or individuals.

not a soul

Emphasizes the absence of any person, often used in emotional contexts.

not the slightest

Indicates a complete lack of something, whether tangible or intangible.

not any at all

Intensifies the negation of quantity, emphasizing that nothing exists.

in no instance

Specifies that something never happens or exists, often in formal settings.

FAQs

How can I use "not one" in a sentence?

Use "not one" to emphasize the complete absence of something. For example, "Not one person volunteered to clean up the mess".

What's a formal alternative to "not one"?

In formal contexts, consider using "none" or "not a single". For example, instead of "not one responded", you could say "none responded".

What does "not one" emphasize?

"Not one" emphasizes the absence of even a single instance of something, highlighting the completeness of the negation. It's stronger than simply saying "no" or "none".

Is "not one" the same as "no one"?

While both express absence, "no one" specifically refers to people. "Not one" can refer to any countable item, not just people. So, "no one" came to the party is correct when referring to people. "Not one snowstorm" is correct when referencing weather.