One of the only ones
By Fleur
@Fleura (34957)
United Kingdom
December 6, 2020 11:37am CST
‘One of the only ones’ - what does this mean?
I see this phrase more and more often, especially in American writing - and now that the internet is making Americanisms the norm I see it everywhere.
Yet what does it mean?
I just read an article about ‘wild’ rice, in which the author described this staple crop as ‘one of the only grains native to north America’ - so what does that actually mean? Is it the only grain native to north America, or isn’t it? Are there several ‘only’ ones?
As far as I am concerned, something is either the only one, or it is one of several. There can’t be more than one of only one!
Are they trying to say 'the only type of grain native to north America', or 'one of the few types of grain'? Or even 'one of several types' ?
Please can some of our American members enlighten me?
I don't have any really appropriate photos so I thought I'd use this one of a rather unusual doggy outfit!
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2020.
7 people like this
7 responses
@Fleura (34957)
• United Kingdom
8 Dec 20
@just4him Is that just an example of a sentence? Because several species of penguin live in Antarctica.
But back to the original - do you think they are trying to say that wild rice is in fact the only grain native to north America? If so, why would they not just say that, instead of 'one of the only' ones?
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
8 Dec 20
@Fleura I've heard about an animal that has several different species, but only one of that species lives in North America, the rest are elsewhere in the world. For instance, there are several types of Penguins, but only the Emperor lives in Antarctica.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
6 Dec 20
well, ya sure complicated schtuff here. there'd 'ctually be 3 types 'f wild rice here'n the u.s. that'n texas 'tis endangered, loss 'f habitat 's 'tis the case with most thingies. i'd presume the same'd be the case fer that which grows'n florida/those gulf places. that which grows'n the north 'twas a staple fer centuries fer the native americans. such 'tis still harvested'n the traditional way to my knowledge. dunno 'bout the other 2, but most likely the same.
that bein' said, 'tis not the only native grain to north america. but one 'f 3, thus "one of the only" perhaps referrin' that such's not widespread 'cross our lands.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
6 Dec 20
@Fleura yer welcome :) i'd watched a program'n p.b.s. 'tis the reason i've any knowledge 'f such. yes ma'am, that sounds 'bout right.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
6 Dec 20
"One of the only ones" "One of the only reasons" etc etc.
I use it to mean that an item is rare, but is more significant than the other similar items if that makes sense. I'm not sure how others might use it, but that's the way I see it. The "one" (subject) is more important than the "others"
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
8 Dec 20
@Fleura That is how I would see it, yes.
1 person likes this
I hope some can enlighten us here in the comment.
