only one phone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only one phone" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when emphasizing the exclusivity or singularity of a phone in a given context. Example: "In this household, there is only one phone that everyone shares."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Since iOS appears on only one phone — an incredibly popular phone, but one nontheless — it's at a significant disadvantage going forward.

TechCrunch

It's only in the last year the surfer gangs and their families have got electricity and there used to be only one phone box on the island where 2,000 or so people live previously you'd have to ring and anyone passing by would pass a message on.

Vice

The 2455 can handle only one phone line, 15 minutes' worth of messages on the answering machine and only four handsets, half as many as most other models.

The New York Times - Tech

But for most of those who spent a night shivering on the pavements of central London, there is only one phone that matters – the 5S.

The Guardian - Tech

According to Fjeldstad, the Marshall Islanders who found Ivan took him to the main island on the atoll – which is so remote there is only one phone line, at the local council house, and no internet – to meet the mayor, Ione de Brum, who put in a call to the ministry of foreign affairs in Majuro, the Marshall Islands capital.

The Guardian

For a long time there was only one phone.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

If you have only one telephone with one phone number, this column won't be of any interest to you.

The New York Times - Tech

There is currently only one public phone on campus that has a built-in TTY for use by deaf people, but I cannot even use that phone to make a campus-to-campus call without having to pay for it.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What we realized in 2007 was there was only one Nokia phone on the market with a front-facing camera.

TechCrunch

In order to limit problems linked to the display of questionnaires on handsets, only one mobile phone model was used in the present study.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Similarly, I only meet people during the workday for lunch or coffee two times per week, I only do two speaking engagements a month, and I only do one phone interview a day.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the limited availability or exclusivity of a phone, use "only one phone" to clearly convey the singularity. For instance, "In that remote village, there was only one phone available for the entire community."

Common error

Avoid using "only one phone" when you mean "one of the phones". The phrase implies a unique, singular instance, not simply one among many. For instance, saying "He used only one phone to make all the calls" suggests he had access to just a single device, not that he chose one from multiple options.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only one phone" functions as a noun phrase modifier. It specifies the quantity of phones, emphasizing that there is just one. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts where scarcity or uniqueness is relevant. This is in accordance with Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "only one phone" is grammatically sound and frequently used across diverse contexts to denote the singularity of a phone. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in News & Media and academic sources, it serves to highlight exclusivity or limitation. When using the expression, it's important to ensure you mean a single, unique device, not just one among many. Alternatives like "just one phone" can be used for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just a single phone

Emphasizes the uniqueness and limited quantity using "single" instead of "one."

just one telephone

Uses the more formal "telephone" instead of "phone" but conveys the same meaning.

solely one phone

Emphasizes that there are no other phones besides this single one.

precisely one phone

Stresses the exactness of having just one phone, no more no less.

a solitary phone

Highlights the loneliness or isolation of having only one phone.

merely one phone

Downplays the quantity, suggesting it's surprisingly few.

specifically one phone

Highlights that there is only one phone for a specific purpose.

exclusively one phone

Implies that this is the only phone available or permitted.

a lone phone

Similar to "solitary", emphasizes the lack of other phones.

uniquely one phone

Indicates that there is only one phone, and it's special in some way.

FAQs

How can I use "only one phone" in a sentence?

Use "only one phone" to emphasize that there is a single, unique phone in a particular context. For example: "In the entire research station, there was "only one phone" for emergency calls."

What does it mean to say there is "only one phone"?

Saying there is "only one phone" means that there is just a single telephone available, implying a limitation or exclusivity. It emphasizes that there aren't multiple phones to choose from or use.

Is it correct to say "just one phone" instead of "only one phone"?

Yes, "just one phone" is a perfectly acceptable alternative to "only one phone". Both phrases convey the same meaning, emphasizing the singularity. The choice depends on personal preference and the desired tone.

When should I use "only one phone" versus another similar phrase?

Use "only one phone" when you want to highlight the scarcity or uniqueness of a phone. If you simply want to state that there is a single phone without emphasizing its exclusivity, you could also use phrases like "a single phone" or "one phone".