one off cases

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "one off cases" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "one-off cases." You can use it to refer to instances or situations that occur only once and are not part of a regular pattern or trend.
Example: "The report highlighted several one-off cases that did not reflect the overall performance of the company."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Here we must distinguish between one-off cases of torture, on the one hand, and legalised or institutionalised torture, on the other.

SEP

I will shortly present arguments to the effect that while there may well be morally justifiable one-off cases of torturing the guilty, it does not follow that torture should ever be legalised, even in such cases.

SEP

This is, of course, not to say that (as argued above) certain one-off cases of torturing the guilty might not be both morally justifiable and legally excusable (or otherwise be able to avail themselves of mitigating circumstances).

SEP

Yet the Government insists that this was a one-off case and has refused so far to relent on their myopic stance.

Independent

It was a one-off case".

Independent

After all, this is hardly a one-off case.

The New Yorker

Well yes, Greece has been threatened with deep EU interference in its finances, but that is a one-off case.

The Economist

The seven-month bombing campaign over Libya was a one-off case, the institute said.

The Guardian

Everyone thought they were a one-off case, then you realise it's a problem across the board".

The Guardian

Mr Hinchliff told the inquest: "This is not a one-off case and it needs bringing to the public's attention".

Independent

"It's a victory for both sides because the parties get to go ahead with the merger and the Justice Department gets to go to the public and say, 'We've protected you from the anti-competitive possibilities.' " But Professor Hovenkamp cautioned against looking at the settlement as more than a one-off case.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the correct form "one-off cases" with a hyphen to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity. This indicates that the cases are singular or isolated.

Common error

Failing to include the hyphen in "one-off cases" changes the meaning and creates a grammatical error. Always use "one-off" as a compound adjective to describe the cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one off cases" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "cases". However, it is grammatically incorrect and should be written as "one-off cases". Ludwig AI flags this as an error, recommending the hyphenated form.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "one off cases" is frequently encountered but grammatically incorrect. The proper form is "one-off cases", where "one-off" functions as a compound adjective describing unique or isolated occurrences. Ludwig AI identifies this as an error and recommends using the hyphenated version for grammatical accuracy. While the unhyphenated form might appear in some sources, adhering to the correct grammatical structure enhances clarity and professionalism. Consider using alternatives such as "isolated incidents" or "unique occurrences" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

isolated incidents

Emphasizes the separation and uniqueness of each occurrence.

unique occurrences

Highlights the distinct and non-repetitive nature of the events.

singular instances

Focuses on the individuality and rarity of the cases.

exceptional situations

Suggests that the cases deviate from the norm.

atypical examples

Indicates that the examples are not representative.

uncharacteristic events

Highlights that the events are out of the ordinary.

infrequent cases

Focuses on the rare nature of the occurrences.

occasional instances

Implies that the instances happen sporadically.

sporadic incidents

Emphasizes the scattered and irregular timing of the incidents.

rare episodes

Highlights the uncommon nature of the episodes.

FAQs

What is the correct way to write "one off cases"?

The correct way to write this phrase is "one-off cases". The hyphen is essential when "one-off" is used as a compound adjective.

What does "one-off cases" mean?

"One-off cases" refers to instances or situations that happen only once and are not part of a regular pattern or trend. They are isolated or unique occurrences.

What can I say instead of "one-off cases"?

You can use alternatives like "isolated incidents", "unique occurrences", or "singular instances".

Is "one off cases" grammatically correct?

No, "one off cases" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "one-off cases", where "one-off" acts as a compound adjective.