One-off vs. One of – Difference Explained (With Examples)

“One-off” and “one of” may look the same to many people when written down. In fact, they may sound the same to non-native English speakers who do not know how to pronounce both expressions correctly. This article will examine both expressions and discuss the right ways to use them. 

Difference Between “One-off” and “One Of”

Although “One-off” and “One of” look similar, they have different meanings. The difference between both expressions lies in their pronunciation and usage in sentences. “One-off” is an idiom, meaning “for single use”. “One of” is a quantifier, used to refer to one entity in a group. They are not interchangeable.

“One-off” and “one of” are two completely different expressions. One of the differences between them is that while “one-off” is used as a single compound word, “one of” is made up of two words. Also, “one-off” is stressed on both syllables, while in “one of”, only “one” is stressed. 

Most people, especially non-native English speakers, usually get confused because of the words “off” and “of”. It is important to know that these words are two different words, pronounced differently. “Off” carries the same sound as ‘f’ in ‘fish’, while “of” carries the same sound as ‘v’ in ‘very’.

The most important difference between both expressions is their meanings. “One-off” is used to refer to something created for one purpose, to be used once and never again. “One of” is used to identify a single entity out of a group. 

Because of these differences, both expressions are not interchangeable. If you use “one-off” in a sentence where you should use “one of”, you may change the meaning of the sentence completely. 

Is It “One-off” or “One off”?

The correct expression is “one-off”. “One-off” should always be hyphenated for it to mean something created for one purpose/something created to be used only once. Without the hyphen between “one” and “off”, the expression loses this meaning. Therefore, it is incorrect to use “one off” in a sentence.

When the speaker is referring to something created for a single purpose, “one off” is incorrect because it is missing the hyphen that gives “one-off” its meaning. 

The difference between both expressions may not be obvious in speech as it would be in writing. This is because people are most likely to pronounce both expressions in the same way. 

Take a look at the following examples:

• Correct: The terms of the contract made it clear that this would be a one-off payment.
• Incorrect: The terms of the contract made it clear that this would be a one off payment. 

The only situation in which “one off” may be correct is when the speaker means to say “remove one”. In such a situation, “one off” must be preceded by the verb “take”. So, it will be correct to say, for example:

• If you feel uncomfortable wearing both bracelets, you should take one off. 

What Does “One-off” Mean?

“One-off” means something created or designed to be used only once, something that will not be repeated. When you use “one-off” in a sentence, it is usually in reference to something happening only once, usually something improvisational and simple. It is an idiom, and it is stressed on both syllables. 

“One-off” must always be hyphenated for it to have its meaning. Otherwise, the sentence in which it is used may have a different meaning from what was intended by the speaker. 

In everyday speech, you should ensure that you do not pronounce “one-off” as “one of”, because they have different meanings. 

Here are some examples of how to use “one-off” in a sentence:

1. The meeting scheduled for tomorrow is a one-off, so please endeavor to attend. 
2. To enroll for the program, you must visit the organization’s website to make a one-off payment. 
3. This carnival is not like the others. It’s a one-off. 
4. Are there going to be other shows or is this a one-off?
5. To show you what I mean, I will create a one-off sample of the code. 
6. The first lady has requested a one-off design for her dress. 
7. This design is a one-off. You won’t find it anywhere else. 

What Does “One of” Mean?

The expression “one of” is a qualifier. It is used to refer to a single thing that is part of a group. This thing could be tangible or intangible. It could be a person, feeling, place, time, or basically anything that can be singled out.

When you use “one of” in a sentence, you are talking about something that, although it is part of a group, you would like to focus on in that statement. You are referring to a particular identifiable thing. It is different from “some of”, which refers to a group of things within a larger group. 

Here are some examples of how to use “one of” in a sentence:

1. One of the reasons why I don’t like mathematics is that I am not good at calculations.
2. Is this one of the bags your mother bought for you last year?
3. Chris is one of the few people I know who have never been on a plane. 
4. Were you one of the people who were summoned to the principal’s office today?
5. One of my aunts had a baby yesterday so we are throwing a party next week. 
6. One of these days, I will tell you the story of how I got my first job.  
7. Even if you don’t remember to bring your own materials, one of the kids will be happy to lend you theirs. 

Is It “One-offs” or “One-ofs”?

“One-offs” is the correct expression. “One-off” refers to something created for one purpose or one use. The plural is “one-offs”, which means several things that have been created for one purpose each. “One-ofs” is incorrect as there is nothing like “one-of”. 

You use the expression “one-off” when you are referring to several things, each of which have been made for only one purpose. This does not mean that the things were created for a joint purpose, but rather that they each have a single purpose. 

You may sometimes misspell “one-offs” as “one-ofs”. This is wrong. It is also wrong to use “one-ofs” when you mean “one-offs” because there is no such word as “one-ofs”. 

Take a look at these sentences:

• Correct: The software company has produced many codes that were one-offs. 
• Incorrect: The software company has produced many codes that were one-ofs. 

Is It “A One-off” or “An One-off”?

The right article to use with “one-off” is “a”, rather than “an”. This is because the first sound in “one-off” is a consonant sound. “One” is pronounced as in “won” and not “un”. So, the appropriate expression is “a one-off” and not “an one-off”.

It would only be right to say “an one-off” if the “one-off” began with a vowel sound. Despite the fact that it begins with “o”, a vowel, the sound it begins with is a consonant sound. 

Take a look at these sentences:

• Correct: This meeting is a one-off. 
• Incorrect: This meeting is an one-off.