only worn once

USAGE SUMMARY

"only worn once" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that was previously worn, but has been used only one time. For example: "I bought this dress at a second-hand store, but it had only been worn once."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The fact that it was only worn once was definitely a good thing.

Independent

After their conversation, Brett said, Kehl turned around, walked back to his truck, brought back a new pair of sneakers "he'd only worn once" and gave them to the boy to grow into.

The New York Times - Sports

And she wants to confess to Isabel each of the thefts, the piles of clothes that are in her apartment, the pairs of shoes she's only worn once, the bags stuffed under her bed.

Vice

The bridesmaid's dresses are particularly useful for rental since the bridesmaids do not get a choice in the dress they will wear, and even if they do not have to pay for the dress themselves, the dress usually is only worn once and then is stored in the back of the closet for many years, so it is not a good investment to purchase.

Bplans

Usually, these used prom dresses offered are only worn once or twice.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It was the kind of dress you could only wear once".

The New York Times

Or hire a dress instead of buying something you will only wear once at rentez-vous.com.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Myself and my co-founder had a gala coming up, and we weren't willing to spend that much on a dress that we knew we would only wear once.

The Guardian

All of which sounds like overkill for a costume you only wear once, until you compare it with the effort expended at my house in recent weeks on a Halloween outfit.

The New York Times

I, like many of my generation, am guilty of buying disposable clothes: jewelled sandals not designed to last beyond a summer, tracksuit bottoms which I know will bobble after a few goes in the washing machine, a neon pink pair of shorts I will only wear once before consigning to a back shelf of my wardrobe.

The Guardian - Opinion

But spending $$$ on something you'll only wear once isn't really economically feasible, for even the 1%ers among us.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing items for sale or donation, use "only worn once" to highlight their near-new condition and increase their appeal.

Common error

Avoid using "only worn once" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "barely used" or "worn a single time" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only worn once" functions as a descriptive modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, that qualifies a noun by indicating the limited use of an item. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard and grammatically sound construction. The examples show it's used to emphasize the near-new condition of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "only worn once" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjectival phrase to describe an item's condition, specifically indicating that it has been used just one time. Ludwig AI validates this, and the examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate the phrase's use across various contexts, from describing clothing for sale to personal anecdotes. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and consider alternatives like "worn once" or "barely used" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Used once

Focuses directly on the single instance of use, omitting 'only'.

Worn just once

Alternative with a slight change of syntax, focusing on the wearing act.

Worn a single time

Emphasizes the singular nature of the wearing occasion, more formal.

Barely used

Highlights the minimal usage, implying it's almost new.

In mint condition

Indicates the item is like new, without specifying the number of uses.

Lightly used

Suggests a few uses, but still in good condition.

New without tags

Implies item was never used but tags removed, new condition.

Hardly ever worn

Indicates rare usage, broader than just once.

Previously worn once

Formal way of stating the item has seen one use.

Used sparingly

Suggests infrequent use, not necessarily limited to just one time.

FAQs

How can I use "only worn once" in a sentence?

You can use "only worn once" to describe clothing or accessories that have been used just one time. For example, "I'm selling this dress because it was "only worn once" for a wedding."

What can I say instead of "only worn once"?

You can use alternatives like "worn once", "used once", or "worn a single time" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "only worn once" or "worn only once"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but ""only worn once"" is more common and sounds more natural in most contexts.

What does it mean when something is described as "only worn once"?

It means that the item, typically clothing or an accessory, has been used or "worn just once" and is therefore in very good condition.