sole individual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'sole individual' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to refer to a single person who is the only person involved in something or the only one to experience something. For example, "He was the sole individual to be selected for the prestigious award."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

You are aware of the clichéd cinematic image of a sole individual standing still or moving slowly as everything else in their world speeds past in a blur.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Career State Department officials make the recommendation, which was eventually followed through by the secretary of homeland security, who is the sole individual with the authority to end the TPS programs," the official said.

The Washington Post

The approach is not unlike how the president ran his eponymous Trump Organization, viewing himself as the sole individual in charge and constantly fixated on the notion of fealty from those working under him.

The Guardian

The absence of explicit author credits and the composite nature of the early Chinese texts, Kern said, calls into question the idea that for ancient China, scholars can equate a written artifact with the original thought of a sole individual.

Princeton University

Kenny, who already had two gold medals to his name as part of the successful team sprint team alongside Hoy in 2008 and 2012, beat Hoy to the sole individual sprint place in the team following a long duel between the pair.

The Guardian - Sport

The Story of Anvil, via Mistaken For Strangers – Tom Berninger's portrait of The National – and Baillie Walsh's fan-fired Springsteen & I. Or there are those feature films that seek to capture not one sole individual but a scene, a movement, a time.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

But think how bleak this world must be if there really is/was ever only one sole, solitary individual capable of coming to a child through the medium of television feeling, expressing and evoking the love that Fred sparked every time he engaged a child.

Huffington Post

The texts which these news readers turn into sound waves are produced through a complex division of labour (from around the 1850s onwards, news texts begin to be produced not by sole individuals but by hierarchical teams (Stephens 2007)) embedded in hierarchical, corporate structures.

Functional Linguistics

Given these regulatory barriers, many communities are left with the patchwork efforts of local organizations, nonprofit groups, churches — and sometimes sole individuals — that seek to find places for former felons to work.

Vice

Juvenile Senegalese sole individuals (n = 3) were obtained from IFAPA Centro El Toruño facilities (El Puerto Santa María, Cádiz, Spain).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

In the US, few elaborate plots have gained any traction, while sole, alienated individuals – "lone wolves" with or without ideologies – have shown themselves capable of mass killings in public places.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sole individual" when you want to emphasize that only one person is responsible for or involved in something. This highlights their unique position or accountability.

Common error

Avoid using "sole individual" in casual conversation. It sounds overly formal and can be replaced with simpler alternatives like "only person" or "just one person".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sole individual" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject or object in a sentence. It identifies a single person who is unique or singularly responsible within a specific context. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sole individual" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that emphasizes the uniqueness or singularity of a person within a specific context. According to Ludwig, it's suitable for formal writing, particularly in news, scientific, and academic settings. While effective for highlighting individual responsibility or involvement, it may sound overly formal in casual conversation, where alternatives like "only person" or "just one person" are more appropriate. The phrase's authoritative sources include The Guardian, The Washington Post and Forbes, among others.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

single person

Focuses on the singularity of the person, omitting the uniqueness implied by 'sole'.

only person

Highlights the exclusivity of the person, similar to 'sole', but less formal.

lone person

Emphasizes the isolation or lack of company of the individual.

unique individual

Stresses the distinctiveness of the person, rather than their singularity in a context.

single entity

Shifts the focus to a more abstract representation of a single being.

solitary figure

Implies isolation and often a visual image of the person.

one person alone

Adds emphasis to the isolation of the individual.

an individual alone

Slightly less formal and emphasizes the individual's separation.

exclusive person

Highlights that this person has some exclusive characteristics, it is rare.

particular person

Highlights a single person, but is more generic and less emphatic about uniqueness.

FAQs

What does "sole individual" mean?

The phrase "sole individual" refers to a single person, emphasizing that they are the only one involved or responsible for something in a given context.

When should I use "sole individual" in my writing?

Use "sole individual" when you want to highlight that a specific person is uniquely responsible or singularly involved in a particular situation. It's more formal than saying "only person".

What can I say instead of "sole individual"?

You can use alternatives like "single person", "only person", or "lone person", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "sole individual" formal or informal?

"Sole individual" is considered a more formal expression. In informal contexts, simpler terms like "only person" or "just one person" might be more appropriate.