One of a Kind vs. The Only One of Its Kind
How to use "one of a kind" and "the only one of its kind" correctlyThis is an entry on my list of Common Errors in English Usage. Visit the main page for direct links to additional entries.
“One of a kind” and “the only one of its kind” are both expressions that are used to describe something unique. (Specifically, if you describe something as “the only one of its kind,” you’re emphasizing that it has qualities that put it in a category of its own; it is unique in a fundamental way.) They should not be combined into “the only one of a kind,” which is an awkward and redundant expression.
This painting is the only one of a kind.
This painting is truly one of a kind.
This painting is a one-of-a-kind work of art.
This ancient cave painting is the only one of its kind; archaeologists have found nothing else like it.
Related Resources
Common Errors in English Usage: Errors in diction and idiom commonly made by native speakers of English
List of Common Errors in English Usage (PDF): Printable version of the complete list
Common Grammar Errors: A list of common errors in grammar (topics like subject-verb agreement and parallelism) as distinct from usage
List of Common Errors in English Usage: PDF version
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