single horse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "single horse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to one horse, often in contexts related to racing, farming, or animal husbandry. Example: "The farmer decided to sell the single horse he had, as he needed to downsize his operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Not one single horse.

The New Yorker

I've never had one single horse, Fred.

The New Yorker

But that won't matter to me; I've gone days without seeing a single horse.

The New Yorker

It took eleven weeks to get through a single horse, and there were many of them.

The New Yorker

Its single horse, ears up, appears ready to pull his fiery gold passenger into eternity.

The Economist

Boarding a single horse there costs $3,000 a month, said Alan Bietsch, the stable's general manager.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

He sets up funds that own all the horses he has for a year instead of sharing ownership of single horses.

The New York Times

As growth rate is individual, any estimation of monthly growth is likely to be incorrect for single horses.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

The occurrence of single horses infected by the same strain and subsequent findings of the MRSA strain in the hospital and the surrounding region show the need for continuous awareness and improvement of infection prevention and control measures.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

It was a highly unusual strategy for betting the pick six -- horseplayers like to cover as many combinations as possible -- and raised suspicions after two of those singled horses won at odds of 26-1 and 13-1.

The New York Times - Sports

In this study we investigated whole mitochondrial genomes of 59 domestic horses from 44 breeds and a single Przewalski horse (Equus przewalski) using a recently described multiplex micro-array capture approach.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene, using "single horse" can emphasize the desolation or sparseness of the environment. For example, "The landscape was barren except for a single horse grazing in the distance."

Common error

Avoid using "single horse" when you mean to convey the idiom of betting on a single option to win, as in "don't bet on a single horse". In this case, rephrase as "don't put all your eggs in one basket" or "diversify your choices".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "single horse" typically functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig show it being used to describe literal instances of one horse being present, such as in farming or racing contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

24%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "single horse" is a grammatically correct noun phrase, predominantly used in descriptive contexts across various fields such as news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. It describes a situation where there is only one horse. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable. Alternative expressions include "lone horse" or "solitary horse". While versatile, it's essential to avoid confusing literal usage with idiomatic expressions. "Single horse" is frequently found in News & Media, Wiki and Science articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lone horse

Emphasizes the solitude or isolation of the horse.

solitary horse

Highlights the lack of other horses nearby.

one horse

A more direct and simple way of saying "single horse".

individual horse

Focuses on the horse as a distinct entity.

a single equine

Uses a more formal term for horse.

an isolated horse

Similar to 'lone horse', emphasizes separation.

a lone steed

Uses a more poetic term for horse, emphasizing solitude.

one animal

Refers to a single horse as an animal.

just one horse

Emphasizes the limited quantity of horses.

a unique horse

Highlights the distinctiveness of the horse.

FAQs

How can I use "single horse" in a sentence?

You can use "single horse" to describe a situation where only one horse is present, such as, "The farmer had only a "single horse" to pull the plow" or "In the morning, you would have been hard-pressed to find a "single horse" hair."

What are some alternatives to using "single horse"?

Alternatives include "lone horse", "solitary horse", or simply "one horse", depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "single horse"?

Yes, "single horse" is grammatically correct. The adjective "single" modifies the noun "horse", indicating that there is only one horse.

What is the difference between "single horse" and "a horse"?

"Single horse" emphasizes the fact that there is only one horse, perhaps in contrast to a situation where there are multiple horses. "A horse" is a more general term that simply indicates the presence of one horse, without necessarily emphasizing its uniqueness or isolation.