one of the two

USAGE SUMMARY

"one of the two" is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that you are talking about one out of two possible options. For example, you could say "I have to choose between two universities, but I think I'll go with one of the two."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But which one of the two came out on top?

Vice

One of the two".

Independent

One of the two soldiers was beheaded.

The New York Times

One of the two, anyway.

The Guardian - Music

"One of the two, or both".

The New York Times - Sports

One of the two trains the writer….

The New Yorker

Have you always felt like one of the two?

The Guardian - Opinion

One of the two men was killed in the fall.

The New York Times

Halawa was one of the two who stayed.

The Guardian

One of the two knights leading the unionizing efforts departed.

The New York Times

A pilot for one of the two will be shot.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "one of the two" when you want to explicitly emphasize that a selection is being made from a specific pair of options.

Common error

Avoid using "one of the two" when more than two options are present. This phrase is specifically for situations involving exactly two choices; for more than two, consider "one of them" or "one of the options."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one of the two" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying that a selection or reference is made to a single item from a pair of items. It acts as a way to quantify and limit the scope of choice to only two possibilities, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "one of the two" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to specify a choice or reference to a single item from a defined pair. As affirmed by Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, including news, scientific writing, and everyday conversations. While versatile, remember to use it only when exactly two options are available. Alternatives like "either of the two" or "one or the other" can provide similar meanings with slight changes in emphasis. Its wide presence in authoritative sources like the "New York Times" and "The Guardian" underscores its acceptability in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

either of the two

Focuses on the possibility of selecting either option from the pair, emphasizing the choice.

one or the other

Highlights the exclusivity of choosing only one from the pair.

aforementioned option

Refers back to one of the options previously mentioned, implying a choice.

the alternative option

Indicates a choice between two possibilities, focusing on the alternative.

one of those options

Broader than just two options, but can be used when the context limits the choices to two.

that option

Similar to “aforementioned option”, focuses on only one element of the pair.

a selected option

Refers to a choice that has already been made.

the chosen one

Emphasizes the selection of a particular option.

the other one

Focuses on one choice in contrast with another explicit option, implying selection of only one element of the pair.

a single option

Indicates a choice of one distinct option, downplaying that it's coming from an explicit couple of options

FAQs

How can I use "one of the two" in a sentence?

Use "one of the two" when you are referring to a specific choice between two options. For example, "I had to pick between the apple and the orange; I chose "one of the two", the apple."

What phrases are similar to "one of the two"?

Similar phrases include "either of the two", "one or the other", or simply specifying "the first" or "the second" if the context is clear.

Is it correct to say "one of the two" or should I use another phrase?

"One of the two" is perfectly correct when you explicitly want to indicate that you are choosing one item from a set of exactly two. The Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

What is the difference between "one of the two" and "one of them"?

"One of the two" is used when you are choosing from a set of exactly two items. "One of them" is used when you are choosing from a set of three or more items.