one-time occurrence

USAGE SUMMARY

"one-time occurrence" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means an event or situation that happens only once. Example: Getting a chance to meet my favorite author was a one-time occurrence that I will always cherish.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

The district told Newsweek in a statement that it received two complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation from students but insists the Bible reading was a one-time occurrence.

HuffPost

The cost for brands to use the service will depend on either the number of messages sent or whether the promotion was a one-time occurrence, like an event sponsorship, Ms. Lee said.

The New York Times

"This is just a one-time occurrence," he said.

The New York Times

But Straw hinted at the time that the visa might be a one-time occurrence.

The New York Times - Sports

Using condiments to soothe workplace burns is more than just a one-time occurrence at McDonald's.

The Guardian - Business

Indeed, the video gaffes do not appear to be a one-time occurrence.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

First, Banc of America suggested that a large chunk of the issues that HP encountered in its servers and storage unit in the third quarter were one-time occurrences.

Forbes

Recall bias could have occurred, but is likely to have been minimal since most of the events women were asked to recall were one-time occurrences during the past one-year.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Panic attacks are one-time occurrences of feeling a sudden surge of overwhelming fear and anxiety.

WikiHow

This isn't a one time occurrence.

Huffington Post

I would have thought that this was OK if it was a one time occurrence.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "one-time occurrence", ensure the context clearly indicates that the event is not expected to be repeated. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your message.

Common error

Avoid using "one-time occurrence" when you mean a 'rare occurrence'. "One-time occurrence" indicates something that happens only once, whereas 'rare occurrence' implies that something happens infrequently, but can still happen more than once.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one-time occurrence" functions as a noun phrase, where "one-time" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "occurrence". It identifies an event or incident that happens only once. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

22%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "one-time occurrence" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an event that happens only once. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. While it's suitable for various contexts, including news, general writing, and even some academic settings, it's essential to ensure the context clearly indicates the non-recurring nature of the event. Be mindful of using more formal alternatives like "singular event" or "isolated incident" in professional or academic writing. Also, remember to differentiate it from similar phrases like "rare event", which describes events that happen infrequently, but can still occur more than once.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

isolated incident

Focuses on the event being singular and detached from any pattern.

singular event

Emphasizes the uniqueness and individual nature of the event.

unique instance

Highlights the event as a distinct and unrepeatable situation.

non-recurring event

Stresses the lack of repetition in the event's nature.

isolated case

Similar to 'isolated incident', but may apply to data or studies as well as events.

exceptional instance

Emphasizes the unusual and uncommon nature of the event.

single episode

Often used in contexts involving medical or behavioral events.

unrepeated event

Highlights that event did not occur again and likely will not.

sporadic event

Implies that the event is rare and occurs at irregular intervals.

a fluke

Informal way to describe something that happened by chance and is unlikely to happen again.

FAQs

How can I use "one-time occurrence" in a sentence?

You can use "one-time occurrence" to describe an event that happens only once, such as: "The company considered the security breach a "one-time occurrence" and implemented new security measures."

What's a formal alternative to "one-time occurrence"?

A more formal alternative to "one-time occurrence" is "singular event" or "unique instance", which both emphasize the distinct and non-recurring nature of an event.

Is it appropriate to use "one-time occurrence" in academic writing?

Yes, "one-time occurrence" is appropriate for academic writing when you need to clearly indicate that an event or finding happened only once and is not part of a pattern. However, consider using a more formal alternative like "isolated incident" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "one-time occurrence" and "rare event"?

"One-time occurrence" means something happens only once and never again. A "rare event" happens infrequently, but it can happen more than once. For example, winning the lottery is a rare event, while a specific historical event like the moon landing is a "one-time occurrence".