# one of only **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771 "2019-03-08T15:46:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/1 "2019-03-08T15:46:22Z")
what drives me bonkers is the now-ubiquitous term “one of the only”–only means one quantity, one of only is contradiction. Why not use correct “one of few…”? ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/2 "2019-03-08T15:52:33Z")
I don’t have any issue with a sentence like “Only five states have a Pacific Ocean coastline.” It simply means that not very many states fit that category; more broadly, that not very many x are included in the category. Nothing specific to one. Where does your beef come from? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/3 "2019-03-08T16:05:26Z")
Can I guess how you feel about “more unique”? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/4 "2019-03-08T16:17:22Z")
Your premise is wrong, “only” does not imply just one. “One of the only…” is perfectly good English. On the other hand, even ignoring the lack of capitalization, there are four errors in your OP. > [@](#): > > only means one quantity This is wrong, “one quantity” means “one amount”. Presumably you mean “one of something” or “a quantity of one”. > [@](#): > > one of only is contradiction Missing article before _contradiction_. > [@](#): > > Why not use correct “one of few…”? Missing articles before _correct_ and _few_. I’d never usually be critical of a non-native speaker making an effort to debate or communicate ideas in English, but if you’re going to start criticizing normal usage in a language that you don’t speak well, that’s just a bit silly. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/5 "2019-03-08T16:20:16Z")
I am only one of the four Dopers who have responded to your thread so far. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/6 "2019-03-08T17:09:13Z")
Ignore them^^ **Fedman**. You’re absolutely right. And I agree with you 110%. j ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/7 "2019-03-08T17:52:56Z")
However, Treppenwitz will no doubt be one of the only people who feels that way������ ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/8 "2019-03-08T18:17:15Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > However, Treppenwitz will no doubt be one of the only people who feels that way�� I detect some sarcasm in the “110%”. But Treppenwitz’s intended meaning is a bit opaque, since it could be read to carry the implication that OP is (in some sense) technically correct, in the same way that you can’t really go above 100%. But OP is not any kind of correct, technically or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/9 "2019-03-08T18:18:24Z")
> [@fedman](#): > > what drives me bonkers is the now-ubiquitous term “one of the only”–only means one quantity, one of only is contradiction. Why not use correct “one of few…”? As pointed out, you are one of the only people who seems to be ignorant of the correct definition: From Merriam Webster: > [@](#): > > Definition of only > > 1 : unquestionably the best : PEERLESS > is convinced that his team is the only one > > 2a : alone in a class or category : SOLE > the only one left > the only known species > She’s the only person you can really trust. > b : having no brother or sister > an only child > > **3 : FEW > one of the only areas not yet explored > That was one of the only times I saw him cry.** Bolding mine. “One of the only” is perfectly good English. There is nothing incorrect about it. This is the kind of correction I like to call an “incorrection.”😉 ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/10 "2019-03-08T20:10:17Z")
Merriam-Webster even has a dictionary entry for ‘one of the only’: > [@https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one%20of%20the%20only](#): > > _one of the only_ idiom > Definition of _one of the only_ > : one of very few : one in a small class or category > That was _one of the only_ times I ever saw my father cry. > This is _one of the only_ places in the world where the plant is found. Trivia quiz, from the _CIA World Factbook_. Complete the following sentence: _“\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is, along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/11 "2019-03-08T21:39:38Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Merriam-Webster even has a dictionary entry for ‘one of the only’: > Trivia quiz, from the _CIA World Factbook_. Complete the following sentence: > _“\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is, along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world.”_ Uzbekistan, although I wondered if the Caspian Sea counted for not being landlocked. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/12 "2019-03-08T21:40:19Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Trivia quiz, from the _CIA World Factbook_. Complete the following sentence: > _“\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is, along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world.”_ Tajikistan? j ETA Possibly Ninja’d, but only if I’m wrong ETA #2 - no, that isn’t right either… ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/13 "2019-03-08T21:51:15Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Tajikistan? It and Kyrgyzstan border on China, which is not landlocked. Same with Mxyzptlkstan and Btfsplkstan. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/14 "2019-03-08T22:30:04Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/15 "2019-03-09T11:33:38Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It and Kyrgyzstan border on China, which is not landlocked. Same with Mxyzptlkstan and Btfsplkstan. Ah - I knew it was a Stan (that’s QI for you) but in my haste (hey, it’s _competitive_ round here) I remembered the wrong one. To return to the original question: is there a difference between US and UK usage? My original comment was half joking (I can rarely stay serious for a whole sentence). Now, I see what Merriam-Webster says, but this is what Collins says: [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/only](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/only) No mention of the “one of the only…” type usage. Add to that the etymology of the word which, as I understand it, relates it to the word “One” - ie, singular, unique. To me, “One of the only [several]” has always sounded ugly and wrong. Yes you do hear it in the UK now, but there are many Americanisms and American usages (egregious ones, some of them\*) that make their way over here. So, in short, I don’t care if Merriam-Webster permits “One of the only” - I won’t be using it. 🙂 j - - I already told you I struggle to stay serious for a whole sentence ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/16 "2019-03-09T12:10:51Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > I am only one of the four Dopers who have responded to your thread so far. you’re missing point–when you change placement of “only” one of, makes sense. one of only does not ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/17 "2019-03-09T12:13:15Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > I don’t have any issue with a sentence like “Only five states have a Pacific Ocean coastline.” It simply means that not very many states fit that category; more broadly, that not very many x are included in the category. Nothing specific to one. Where does your beef come from? you are not responding to my specific usage/placement of word only, ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/18 "2019-03-09T12:23:57Z")
> [@fedman](#): > > you’re missing point–when you change placement of “only” one of, makes sense. one of only does not > [@fedman](#): > > you are not responding to my specific usage/placement of word only, When you can learn enough of the English language to produce a sentence that does not contain a grammatical error, maybe I’ll start paying more attention to your belligerent criticisms of common English usage. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/19 "2019-03-09T12:24:21Z")
fedman, English is not your native language, correct? Every single one of your posts contains language errors that would be very unusual for a native English speaker to make. Also, a number of replies in this thread have addressed your question directly, and provided dictionary citations that refute your position. Why are you ignoring those posts, and responding only to the ones that didn’t answer your question directly? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771/20 "2019-03-09T16:04:33Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > fedman, English is not your native language, correct? Every single one of your posts contains language errors that would be very unusual for a native English speaker to make. > > Also, a number of replies in this thread have addressed your question directly, and provided dictionary citations that refute your position. Why are you ignoring those posts, and responding only to the ones that didn’t answer your question directly? Don’t you mean “one of the only posts that didn’t answer your question directly?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-only/830771.md?page=2)