SpeakUp

Grammar fix

single out

choose for special attention

to choose one person or thing from a group for special attention, often in a way that makes them stand out.

phrasal verbB2common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • The teacher singled out Maria for her excellent project.daily life
  • In my opinion, it's important for leaders to single out employees who work hard, as it motivates others to do their best.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: single out sb/sth (for sth)

WrongWhy do you always single out me?

RightWhy do you always single me out?

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'single me out'.

Patternsingle out sb/sth (for sth)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The manager selected one employee for particular attention.

Natural The manager singled one employee out.

'Single out' compactly means pick one from a group for special focus; the paraphrase is clunky.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • single out + person
    one studenthima few namesfor praise

Don't confuse it

'Single out' is different from 'pick out', which just means to choose, without the idea of special attention.

Try it in Daily Speak →