only one correct answer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only one correct answer" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that there is only one option or solution that is "correct" or ideal in a given situation. For example: "For this exam, there is only one correct answer for each question."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

And there's only one correct answer here, which is to 2 p z.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Learning analytics and personalized learning tools are excellent scaffolds to help students solve problems that have only one correct answer.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

There are forty simple sums in algebraic form to each of which there is only one correct answer.

The New Yorker

Maeve Binchy's father taught her that if someone asked how she was, there was only one correct answer: "Fine, thank you".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If asked in a quiz for the link between Julie Andrews and Alan Clark, Julian Fellowes and Edna O'Brien, you could give only one correct answer: Ion Trewin, publisher.

The Guardian - Books

"He was giving me problems that were unambiguous, as in there was one and only one correct answer," Mr. Pace said, explaining how this appealed to his problem-solver personality.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

The minimum score for any question was zero.> -wrap-foot> *oney one correct answer hence the number of correct answers and in parentheses, the proportion of correct answers, are reported.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

I am old enough to have stood outside Our Price Records brandishing a small circle of shiny silver plastic, asking passers-by what a CD was and only getting one correct answer.

The Guardian

Among all 630 LM answers only one correct term (0.32%) was not included in the list of answers.

BMC Medical Education

And after years of being asked questions by a power figure or filling in the bubble on a multiple choice test, students have learned there is only one way to think and one correct answer.

Huffington Post

They have been on the correct path and only need one more step to reach the answer, meaning that learners need only one correct card to complete the problem.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When designing multiple-choice questions, ensure that "only one correct answer" is unambiguously supported by the provided information or context.

Common error

Avoid creating questions where multiple answers could be argued as correct. Ensure clarity and precision in question design to guarantee that "only one correct answer" is truly justifiable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only one correct answer" functions as a descriptor or modifier, often used to clarify the nature of a question, problem, or evaluation. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is standard English. Examples show it is most often used in educational contexts to describe tests or quizzes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

31%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "only one correct answer" is a common descriptor used to specify that a question or problem has a single, definitive solution. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's frequently employed in academic, scientific, and news contexts to manage expectations and clarify the nature of assessments or problem-solving scenarios. Alternatives include "a single correct response" or "exactly one correct answer", offering slight variations in emphasis. When designing tests or questions, it's crucial to ensure that the intended answer is unambiguously correct, avoiding potential confusion or disputes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a single correct response

Focuses on the response being solitary and accurate.

just one correct answer

Emphasizes the exclusivity of the correct answer.

only a single right answer

Highlights the uniqueness of the accurate answer.

exactly one correct answer

Stresses the precision and singularity of the correct answer.

precisely one correct answer

Underscores the exactness and singularity of the accurate solution.

one and only one correct answer

Emphasizes uniqueness and correctness by redundancy.

uniquely correct answer

Highlights the unique correctness of the answer.

the sole correct answer

Emphasizes that there's no other correct option.

the only right solution

Shifts focus to a 'solution' instead of an 'answer'.

no other correct answer

Highlights the absence of additional correct answers.

FAQs

How do I use "only one correct answer" in a sentence?

Use "only one correct answer" to emphasize that, from a range of possible choices, just one is right. For example, "In this test, there is "only one correct answer" for each question".

What are some alternatives to "only one correct answer"?

You can use phrases like "a single correct response", "just one correct answer", or "exactly one correct answer" to convey the same meaning as "only one correct answer".

Is it redundant to say "one and only one correct answer"?

Yes, saying "one and only one correct answer" is somewhat redundant, but it can be used for emphasis. A more concise option would simply be ""only one correct answer"".

What is implied when a test has "only one correct answer"?

When a test states that there is "only one correct answer", it implies that the questions are designed to be unambiguous, with a single, definitive solution that can be derived through logic or knowledge.