not one individual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not one individual" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that no single person is included in a particular group or situation. Example: "In the entire meeting, not one individual raised their hand to speak."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

She went on, "When I was first elected, I knocked on hundreds and thousands of doors, and there was not one individual — not one individual — who indicated to me that they needed an arena.

The New Yorker

Speculation, for some time, has been that Banksy is, in fact, not one individual but a collective of people throwing up the artist's work on walls internationally.

Los Angeles Times

Not one individual".

The New York Times

Very likely not one individual but a community," she said.

The Guardian - Music

"When somebody gets out of line, the group brings them back in the fold -- not one individual," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

As has become all too common in these cases, not one individual was identified as being responsible for the activities.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

"But the decision to grant or deny sublets is made by the entire board, not by one individual on the board".

The New York Times

The Conservative MP Ken Clarke said the debate should not centre on one individual.

The Guardian

This is where power is decentered and not focused on one individual [4].

Security Informatics

"While Dick was the one who happened to be involved in these discussions, the agreements are on behalf of the company, not any one individual," he said.

The New York Times

As Snowden said on Saturday, spies are interested in collective communications, not just one individual's.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a more casual tone, consider using simpler alternatives like "no one at all" or "not a single person".

Common error

Avoid using "not one individual" in informal settings where it might sound overly stiff or pretentious. Opt for more relaxed alternatives to maintain a natural conversational flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not one individual" functions as a negative quantifier, emphasizing the absence of any single person within a given context. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status. It strengthens the negation to highlight a complete lack of individual participation or effect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not one individual" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to emphasize the absence of any single person. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate use. While versatile, it leans towards a neutral to formal register, making it suitable for professional or official contexts. Alternatives like "no one at all" or "not a single person" can provide a more casual tone. Its communicative purpose is to highlight collective impact or the lack of individual responsibility. This phrase frequently appears in news and media sources, indicating its relevance in reporting and formal discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not a single person

Emphasizes the absence of even one person.

no one at all

Directly states that nobody is present or involved.

absolutely nobody

Strengthens the negation.

nobody whatsoever

Adds extra emphasis to the absence of any person.

not anyone

Simplified version of "not one individual".

not any person

A more formal way of saying "not a single person".

no individuals

Plural form emphasizing that more than one individual are excluded.

zero people

Mathematically expresses the complete absence of people.

without exception

Focuses on the lack of exceptions to a rule.

not a soul

Figurative language emphasizing the complete absence of anyone.

FAQs

What does "not one individual" mean?

The phrase "not one individual" emphasizes that no single person is included or affected by something. It highlights the complete absence of any person in a specific context.

What can I say instead of "not one individual"?

You can use alternatives like "not a single person", "no one at all", or "nobody whatsoever" depending on the context.

Is "not one individual" formal or informal?

"Not one individual" tends to be more formal. In casual contexts, simpler alternatives like "no one" or "not a single person" might be more appropriate.

How to use "not one individual" in a sentence?

Use "not one individual" to emphasize the absence of even a single person. For example: "In the entire meeting, not one individual raised their hand to speak."