one among thousands

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "one among thousands" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something or someone is part of a larger group, often emphasizing uniqueness or rarity within that group. Example: "She is one among thousands who have dedicated their lives to helping others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Corrections minister Kelvin Davis was one among thousands who surrendered a semi-automatic rifle, which he used for hunting.

The Guardian

And this is just one among thousands, millions of such stories of moral complexity.

BBC

Levandowski is only one among thousands of AI specialists with grandiose visions of a robotically enhanced future.

University of Chicago

Boeing is one among thousands of companies that, above all else, attempt to maximize short-term shareholder value at the expense of what's good for nearly everyone but the shareholder.

Forbes

This is only one among thousands of examples of what modern science is teaching us about the healing properties of food.

HuffPost

It's one among thousands of reasons why Scully was — and remains — the best, most perfect vocal accompaniment to any team playing any kind of baseball game imaginable.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Issa is one among hundreds of men and women who take on that role every day, and have been doing so for years, if not decades.

Vice

The cover of "Boston" is one among hundreds that she designed in the nineteen-seventies (the actual illustration is by Roger Huyssen), most of them far cooler.

The New Yorker

The hospital contacted authorities, but the case — one among hundreds of others at the time — stalled because the Fort Worth police detective assigned to it could not reach Cisneros, who was not cooperating with the investigation, according to Fort Worth police.

The Washington Post

As befits a visitor who only recently learned that her grandfather's brother — one among millions of victims of Europe's influenza epidemic of 1918 — studied at the famed Bratislava Yeshiva, then known by its German name, Pressburg Yeshiva, I continued my ethnic studies.

The New York Times - Travel

Instead of being one among billions, you are a member of a much smaller class.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "one among thousands" to convey a sense of belonging to a large group while subtly emphasizing the individual's uniqueness or the magnitude of the collective.

Common error

Avoid using "one among thousands" when the actual number is significantly less. The phrase is designed to convey a large quantity, and misusing it diminishes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one among thousands" functions as a qualifier, positioning an individual or item within a large group. It highlights membership in a vast collective, as supported by Ludwig's examples showing its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

24%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "one among thousands" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote something or someone as part of a substantial collective, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is most commonly found in News & Media and Academic contexts. While the phrase is versatile, it's important to ensure its usage accurately reflects a truly large group to maintain its intended impact. Alternative phrases like ""one of many"" or ""a drop in the ocean"" can offer similar meanings with slight shifts in emphasis. Overall, "one among thousands" serves as a practical way to convey belonging within a vast context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one of many

Simplifies the expression, focusing on the shared characteristic of belonging to a group without additional nuance.

just one of thousands

Adds a tone of minimality or ordinariness

one in a thousand

Emphasizes rarity or distinctiveness within the larger group, shifting focus from mere inclusion to exceptionality.

a single instance among thousands

Formalizes the expression, emphasizing the isolated nature of the specific case relative to the multitude.

one example among countless others

Highlights that are an inifite number of elements.

one voice among thousands

Specificity shifts to the act of vocalization

a mere speck among thousands

Emphasizes smallness or unimportance compared to the larger whole.

a drop in the ocean

Highlights the insignificance of the individual or element compared to the vastness of the whole.

one unit among thousands

Focuses on the individual as a component within a larger system or structure.

a needle in a haystack

Stresses the difficulty in singling out the element within the multitude

FAQs

How can I use "one among thousands" in a sentence?

Use "one among thousands" to emphasize that a person or thing is part of a very large group. For instance, "This applicant is "one among thousands" applying for the scholarship".

What are some alternatives to "one among thousands"?

You can use alternatives like "one of many", "a drop in the ocean", or "one in a thousand" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "one among thousands"?

It's appropriate when you want to highlight that someone or something is part of a very large group, especially when the size of the group is relevant to the point you are making.

Is there a more formal way to express "one among thousands"?

Yes, you could use "a single instance among thousands" to sound more formal. Alternatively phrases like "one example among countless others" or "a mere speck among thousands"" can also be used to add different nuances.