single exit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "single exit" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where you are referring to a situation or design that has only one way out. For example, "The building has a single exit, making it difficult to evacuate during an emergency." Alternative expressions include "one exit" and "sole exit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

We pushed back against the throng toward the main road and the ghetto's single exit.

The New York Times

One big danger in an emergency is that people will follow the crowd and all herd towards a single exit.

The Economist

In a pitch-dark panic that saw more than 350 people bolt for a single exit, someone carried the 15-year-old girl to safety.

The Washington Post

The pharynx, with its many gill slits, is surrounded by the atrium, a large cavity with a single exit (the atriopore) on the lower surface of the body.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Anyone who has ever had to find a way out of a crowded theatre can appreciate how much easier it is to leave a building with several exits than one with a single exit.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And then there are the trips where I take every single exit just to catch my breath, 60 miles of avoiding eye contact with ramps that launch into bridges, cursing the one I once took accidentally and the haunting from it that I still feel.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

But 2016 may go down as the year when that single issue has exited from the race to the White House, thanks to the flip-floppery of Hillary Clinton.

Los Angeles Times

The Leave vote has the potential to bring UKIP, an upstart party formed to campaign over the single issue of exiting the EU, into the main stream, a difficult hurdle in Britain which has no proportional representation.

Huffington Post

The difference between the processes is the number of exits: while CAS1 is a single-exit process, CAS2 has two exits.

Nanoscale Research Letters

And firms that were unable to sell portfolio companies in 2006 and 2007 probably haven't had a single sizable exit since 2000.

The New York Times

The results initially show that, when considering evacuation scenarios with a single available exit and favourable response times, the obtained evacuation times do not differ significantly between the models.

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In financial or business contexts, use the phrase to describe the lack of diverse liquidity options for investors.

Common error

Avoid using a hyphen when "single exit" acts as a simple noun phrase (e.g., "there was a single exit"). Only use a hyphen if it functions as a compound modifier before a noun, such as a "single-exit strategy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "single exit" functions primarily as a noun phrase composed of the quantitative adjective "single" and the noun "exit". According to Ludwig, it is used to denote the numerical uniqueness of a point of departure. In technical writing, it can also serve as part of a compound modifier (e.g., "single exit price").

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "single exit" is a precise and widely accepted phrase used to describe situations where only one path of departure is available. Ludwig AI demonstrates its prevalence in safety reports, biological descriptions, and financial analysis. While often synonymous with "only exit", the term "single exit" carries a more clinical and descriptive weight, making it the preferred choice in technical and journalistic writing. Whether describing a crowded nightclub's fire hazard or a biological atrium's structure, the phrase effectively communicates the concept of a unique terminal point.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sole exit

Emphasizes that no other exits exist, often used in legal or formal descriptions.

only exit

A more common and direct way to describe a unique way out.

solitary exit

Suggests the exit is isolated or physically separated from other structures.

lone exit

Often used in narrative or descriptive writing to highlight isolation.

one way out

A more idiomatic and informal expression for a situation with a single path to leave.

exclusive exit

Implies the exit is reserved for a specific purpose or group.

unique exit

Stresses the singularity or distinctiveness of the exit point.

unilateral exit

Typically used in political or contractual contexts to describe leaving an agreement.

individual exit

Focuses on the exit as a single unit among many possible separate components.

primary exit

Suggests it is the main exit, though others might potentially exist.

FAQs

How to use "single exit" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe physical constraints, such as "The crowded building had only a "single exit", making evacuation difficult." or in business, "The startup faced a lack of options with only a "single exit" strategy available."

What can I say instead of "single exit"?

You can use alternatives like "sole exit", "only exit", or "one way out" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "single exit" or "singular exit"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "single exit" is far more common in everyday and technical English to denote quantity (one). "singular exit" often implies the exit is unique, remarkable, or odd.

Is "single exit" used in medical contexts?

Yes, in anatomy and biology, it often refers to structures like a "single exit wound" or a biological cavity with a unique opening.