without a single day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without a single day" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the continuity of an action or state over a period of time without interruption. Example: "He worked on the project without a single day off, demonstrating his dedication and commitment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

An hourly wage of $7.25 works out to $290 a week and $15,080 a year (before taxes, and without a single day off except for weekends).

Huffington Post

The court adopted the government's plan to break up and regulate Microsoft without a single day of testimony.

The New York Times

You'll just have to toil for about five weeks to do it, without a single day off.

The Guardian

"We've had seven years now without a single day of good faith, substantive talks," he said, calling President Bush's failure to pursue a resolution aggressively "unconscionable".

The New York Times - Books

Still, Vijayan thought that he could pay back the loan, as the owner insisted that both he and his wife work without a single day off and allowed him only three hours' sleep a night.

The New Yorker

Having started out without a single day of combat experience, Cage slowly morphs into a battle-hardened veteran with the skills and knowledge to fend off the extraterrestrial Mimics.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

It was less automatic at the Madison County School District, where the teachers created a bank of sick days that allowed Ms. Risler and Ms. Harrison to recover without losing a single day of pay.

The New York Times

Both leagues did so without missing a single day due to a work stoppage.

The Guardian - Sport

This summer I went two months without working a single day.

Vice

She did it for eighteen years (a record eventually broken by Vanna White) and once went sixteen of them without missing a single day.

Vice

Well then, asked Aaron, how is that Pete Rose was hired as the Cincinnati Reds' manager without spending a single day as a minor league field boss?

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without a single day" to emphasize the remarkable consistency or dedication involved in an action or state. For example, "She practiced the piano without a single day of rest for months, demonstrating her commitment."

Common error

Avoid using "without a single day" in situations where simpler alternatives like "daily" or "continuously" are more appropriate. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without a single day" functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing the continuous nature of an action or state. As shown by Ludwig, it highlights that something occurs consistently and uninterruptedly.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "without a single day" is a grammatically correct and useful expression for emphasizing the continuous nature of an action or state, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts and serves to highlight dedication, consistency, or the lack of any interruptions. While the phrase is valid and clear, remember to use it judiciously in order to not sound overly dramatic. Also, it's essential to be aware of alternative phrases, such as "without any days off" or "continuously", to enhance the diversity and effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without any days off

Focuses specifically on the absence of scheduled time off.

without a break

Highlights the continuous nature of an activity or situation.

without interruption

Emphasizes the lack of disturbances or pauses.

continuously

A single word describing the ongoing nature of something.

uninterruptedly

Similar to 'continuously', but with a stronger emphasis on the absence of breaks.

nonstop

Informal way to describe something happening without ceasing.

around the clock

Indicates something happening 24 hours a day, without stopping.

day in, day out

Highlights the repetitive and continuous nature of an action.

without exception

Highlights that this is true in all cases.

straight through

Implies completing something from beginning to end without stopping

FAQs

How can I use "without a single day" in a sentence?

Use "without a single day" to emphasize the continuous nature of an action or state. For example, "He worked on the project without a single day off, showing his dedication."

What can I say instead of "without a single day"?

You can use alternatives like "without any days off", "without a break", or "continuously" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "without not a single day"?

No, "without not a single day" is a double negative and grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "without a single day".

What's the difference between "without a single day" and "not a single day"?

"Without a single day" emphasizes the continuous nature of an action, while "not a single day" simply highlights the absence of something. For example, "He worked without a single day off" emphasizes his continuous work. "Not a single day" is often followed by went by.