to remind people of the word "singly"

[Maestoso]

Where did it go? Why has "singularly" taken over? I don't understand. One is single. Unusual is singular. Loaves of bread sold one at a time are sold singly. One unusual frock could be described as a singular frock and sold singly. I'm sad for singly, it's dying a death.

I would say a loaf of bread sold one at a time is sold individually.

Sorry....

Yes!

It’s enough to make a pedant like me despair.

Ohhh, I'll try and use singly today. I don't think I use it but then I don't use singularly either.

You can. I did too, higher up the thread!

Also agree about disinterested and see many others got there first!

I agree in principle with your point about singly but having said it a few times I find it hard to say. I can’t remember ever using it tbh.

I haven't ever used the word singly. I'll slip it into conversation today.

Thanks, all!

My vote for most sadly misused word goes to ‘disinterested’. It does not mean the same thing as uninterested. Anyone using them synonymously should be forced to read all the novels of Jane Austen on rotation until they use them correctly

Oh! So many posts on disinterested/uninterested! I thought no one else CARED! Drives me nuts but I never mention it because no-one can ever be bothered to listen to the explanation of how they are different, so the point can never be conveyed.

There have been so many changes to the meanings of words in recent years it is hard to keep up. Add that to the increasing numbers of people who don't understand the meaning of words anyway/ use the wrong words, it is not surprising that confusion is common.

Discreet/discrete is another that makes me 😩.

Oh dear. So many words being misutilised. Sorry.

I'll add averse and adverse, affect and effect.

But poor singly is noted by absence because singularly is everywhere in retail. If it weren't so popular I'd feel sorry for the misused singularly too, it's true meaning also dying a death.

Oh, I was reprimanded on Mumsnet once for using 'disinterested' wrongly. Then someone came to my rescue and pointed out that 'disinterested' also worked for what I was saying (in a roundabout way😆) I'm sure I knew the difference, but I can be a bit sloppy sometimes.

I'm pleased to say that the word 'singly' features in my vocabulary from time to time, just not very often. Weirdly, when I think of it, I imagine my mum saying it.

This! I cannot get my DSes to appreciate the difference. They are forever using 'purposefully' when then mean 'purposely.'

Actually I've noticed more that the adjective 'singular' seems to be used in place of 'single' - things like 'one singular person standing alone'. Of course the person could be singular as well as single, but it's obvious that that's not the meaning.

May I add 'fewer' and 'less' to today's pedantry mix? Dare I also include 'discrete' and 'discreet'?
I'll stop now otherwise the kitchen floor will never get cleaned!

Fewer vs less is a fairly modern (last few centuries) change. Less has been commonplace and was accepted in the past in all cases, countable or otherwise.

Perhaps I don’t shop in the right places, or maybe I do - but I don’t think I see singly or singularly used anywhere. That’s probably because usually it’s clear if it’s an available as a single item or part of a multipack. If I was in any doubt, I’d just ask if I could buy one. Asking ‘is that available singly’ just seems an inelegant way of saying ‘I’d like one of those please’

Thank you OP. These threads are my favourite.

I have a child who keeps telling me that "there is only a singular bun left" and it makes me twitch (or sometimes rant, depending on my mood). It's not a special bun!

I'm so glad people on here understand.

Oh gosh.... my people! All my pet peeves have been aired. It is (not only) for this reason that I am learning Spanish.

Affect and effect are so very different in meaning. I had a crisis this week when I saw a social media post by a very successful company which is run by a friend. They'd used affect instead of effect, and my fingers were twitching to message him. Maybe I should have.

If we are going to talk about singly, may I add its near neighbour 'twice'? Everywhere, particularly on adverts, twice (RIP) has been replaced by 'two times'. It really grates on me to hear that a cleaning product or whatever is two times as effective.

Me too !

I agree with pp that the problem with "singly" is in its pronunciation.

Plus, words fall out of favour.

I've never seen "singularly" being used in its place personally, but I have seen "separately" and "individually".

I'd always use "separately" I think.

Yes. As do reined and reigned. Curb and kerb. Borrow and lend.

But I think we need to focus on the following horrors:

abit

alot

would of

On reflection, I think curb might be the accepted form in the US? But for British folks - it’s a dropped kerb, not curb.

Oh dear. I’m about to start marking and need to brace myself.