once in a meeting vs once in the meeting

Both "once in a meeting" and "once in the meeting" are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "Once in a meeting" implies a general occurrence of being in a meeting at least once, while "once in the meeting" suggests a specific instance within a particular meeting.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 757 views

once in a meeting

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate a general occurrence of being in a meeting at least once.

This phrase is used to describe the frequency of attending meetings, indicating that the person has been in a meeting at least once.

Examples:

I have only seen him once in a meeting.
She spoke up once in a meeting last week.

Show examples from the web [+]

The kids are off doing a zillion things, and once in a while, your meetings have to wait.
I mean, John might've gone to a meeting once or twice, but he was no ecoterrorist.
I remember once in Paris, meeting this girl in the Metro.
Once at a meeting a guy said "Brother Mason" to me.
This cannot be ignored or evaded, certainly not on account of soft law, as was once suggested at a meeting of our Committee.
We do not believe - and this has been pointed out by other Members - that a meeting once every six months between the Vice-President and the Chairman of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Council is sufficient.
Mr President, we are once again meeting here to discuss the regulation on novel foods.
Once the meeting ends, you will be informed of the outcome.
So I think we should consider simply abolishing these meetings once and for all.
The only time I ever had anything to do with Zeitlin's business was when I drove him to a meeting once, like, six months ago.
A review of the last meeting is of little use to me right now;I would have been very keen to hear it once the meeting was over.
I remember meeting one once with my mother in Moscow.
He threatened me once at a zoning meeting.
Hardzarkem* knows his kids' names after meeting them once.
You know, I think I remember meeting him once.
A conference of the signatory parties should also be organised, probably meeting once a year.
They've been meeting once a week for prayer, spiritual guidance... and the sharing of Jesus Christ.
I went to one of these meetings once up in Seattle.
Nonetheless, I shall hope that in three months' time, at the end of the year, we may once again have a meeting of this type in order to ascertain what follow-up there has been to the requests presented today.
4. The Commission shall convene at least once a year a meeting of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture to evaluate compliance with and the results of the national control action programmes for cod stocks in the Baltic Sea.

Alternatives:

occasionally in a meeting
sometimes in a meeting
rarely in a meeting
frequently in a meeting
regularly in a meeting

once in the meeting

This phrase is correct and used to refer to a specific instance within a particular meeting.

This phrase is employed to highlight a singular occurrence or action that took place during a specific meeting.