one of the

USAGE SUMMARY

"one of the" is used commonly in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that is part of a larger group. For example: "One of the main characters in the story was an unexpected surprise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"One of the nicer ones".

The New York Times

One of the best.

The New York Times

"One of the t.A.T.u.

Independent

One of the giveaways?

The New York Times

"One of the nurses.

The New Yorker

One of the immortals.

Independent

One of the lads.

Independent

One of the two".

Independent

One of the bedder shows.

The New Yorker

One of the medics died.

The New York Times

One of the women, Cpl.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "one of the", ensure that the noun following "the" is plural. For example, "one of the books", not "one of the book".

Common error

Avoid using a singular noun after "one of the". The phrase indicates membership in a group, so the group must be described with a plural noun. For instance, say "one of the solutions", not "one of the solution".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one of the" functions as a determiner followed by a prepositional phrase. It serves to specify a particular item or individual as a member of a larger group or set. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's used commonly in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

14%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "one of the" is a versatile and very common phrase used to indicate membership within a group. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage in written English. To use it correctly, always follow "the" with a plural noun. Common contexts include news, wikis, and scientific articles. While grammatically straightforward, it's essential to maintain consistency in noun plurality to avoid common errors. The phrase has a neutral register and serves primarily to identify something as part of a group.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a member of the

Focuses on membership within a specific group.

part of the

Highlights that something is included in a larger whole.

an element of the

Implies being a component or part of something.

included in the

Focuses on inclusion within a defined set.

among the

Indicates being within a group or collection.

considered as one of the

Suggests evaluation and inclusion in a group.

recognized as one of the

Highlights acknowledgment as part of a group.

counted among the

Emphasizes being included when counting members.

falls within the category of

Specifies placement into a particular class.

is classified as one of the

Focuses on official categorization within a group.

FAQs

How do I use "one of the" in a sentence?

Use "one of the" to indicate that a particular item is a member of a group, always followed by a plural noun. For example, "He is "one of the best players" on the team".

What's the difference between "one of the" and "the only"?

"One of the" implies that there are multiple items in the group, while "the only" indicates that there is only one. "She is "one of the smartest students"" suggests there are other smart students. "She is the only student" means she's unique.

What can I say instead of "one of the" to avoid repetition?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a member of the", "part of the", or "included in the". For example, instead of "one of the reasons", you might say "a factor in" or "an element of".

Is it ever correct to use a singular noun after "one of the"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect to use a singular noun directly after "one of the". The correct construction always requires a plural noun to denote a group. For instance, always say "one of the books", not "one of the book".