once a year vs once

The phrases 'once a year' and 'once' are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes. 'Once a year' specifies the frequency of an event happening annually, while 'once' simply means one time without specifying a timeframe. Therefore, the choice between the two depends on whether you want to convey an annual occurrence or a one-time event.

Last updated: April 04, 2024 • 129 views

The phrase 'once a year' is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that something happens annually.

"once a year"

Use 'once a year' when you want to specify that an event or action occurs once every year.

Examples:

I visit my grandparents once a year.
The festival is held once a year in December.
We have a family reunion once a year.
The company conducts performance reviews once a year.
The school trip takes place once a year.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 21, 2024

Sep 12, 2016 ... I've seen people using the phrase once a year but I wonder isn't it should be once in a year. Are they both the same and acceptable?
Monterey® Once a Year Insect Control II. $21.99 – $59.99. A systemic insecticide. One application controls insects for ...
Aug 12, 2022 ... 196 votes, 129 comments. Hello! Just curious…. Is it better to contribute once a month for cost averaging? Or to just do 6k once a year so ...
May 19, 2009 ... Once a year is also fine and as you suggest, slightly less formal. R · Rover_KE. Senior Member. Northwest England - near Blackburn, Lancashire.
Dec 18, 2017 ... I thought Christmas only comes once a year. · Comments Section · Community Info Section · More posts you may like.
Aug 26, 2015 ... Well any Christian would automatically understand that to be once a year. So he concluded that many churches in America practice communion ...
Nov 13, 2024 ... These are words and phrases related to once a year. Click on any word or phrase to go to its thesaurus page.
Dec 26, 2017 ... But, I can tell you that if it REALLY is “once a year”-you're all right. Now, technically, especially for a person who is not used to drinking, ...
Oct 15, 2024 ... After 21 years of doing once-a-year fundraisers for our Frontera Farmer Foundation, can I continue to say “This was the best one ever!”?
ServiceNow Community · Products · Now Platform · Workflow Automation · Workflow Automation forum; Trigger a flow on a specific day once a year.

Alternatives:

annually
every year
once per year
yearly
on an annual basis

The word 'once' is correct and commonly used in English to indicate something happening one time, without specifying a recurring frequency.

"once"

Use 'once' when you want to convey that something happens only one time, without mentioning a specific timeframe or frequency.

Examples:

I have only been to Paris once.
He called me once to confirm the meeting.
She won the championship once in her career.
I will only ask you this once.
He visited the museum once and never went back.

Show examples from the web [+]

Because once those cards are dealt...
Brother has flunked university once already.
My people already crossed a desert once.
I've only met Pastor Robinson once before.
The old buzzard almost locked me out once.
Counsel has repeated the question once.
For once, the Professor felt weakened.
Our abilities were professionally assessed more than once.
I tried working more slowly once.
Snipers don't usually hit just once.
I went through something similar once.
And for once the witnesses agree.
The operation has only been performed once before.
Thomas Jefferson once shot a man for treason.
Friend of mine once suggested fishing.
A positive test means she tried it once.
I once felt exactly that way.
But a prisoner escaped there once.
Special enough for promises, once.
Easy-breezy once I had access to their drives.

Alternatives:

one time
a single time
just once
only once
on one occasion

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany