One More Thing vs. One Thing More – Which is Correct?
When deciding between “one more thing” and “one thing more,” both are grammatically possible, but “one more thing” is the natural modern expression. It means an additional item or final point in a list. “One thing more” is uncommon, literary, or emphatic and usually sounds marked in everyday American English.
One More Thing or One Thing More – Which is Correct?
“One more thing” is the preferred expression in contemporary English. Use it when you want to introduce an additional point, request, reminder, or item. It is especially common at the end of a conversation, presentation, email, or list.
“One thing more” is not necessarily grammatically wrong, but it is much less common. The unusual word order can sound formal, literary, dramatic, or deliberately emphatic. In most everyday situations, “one more thing” will sound more natural.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the addition test: if you can replace the phrase with “one additional thing,” choose “one more thing.” The word more naturally comes before the noun it modifies, just as in “more time,” “more information,” and “more questions.”
For example, “I have one more thing to say” means “I have one additional thing to say.” Although “I have one thing more to say” can be understood, it sounds less natural to most modern speakers.
This distinction also helps clarify the related usage discussed in Anymore vs. Any More, where spacing affects meaning.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| one more thing | Fixed noun phrase | One additional item, point, or request | I have one more thing to discuss. |
| one thing more | Less-common noun phrase | One additional thing, usually with emphasis or a literary tone | One thing more remained before the journey could begin. |
How to Use One More Thing
“One more thing” is the standard and most versatile expression. It refers to an additional item, idea, question, task, or statement. It can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.
The phrase is common in both casual and professional communication. In conversation, it often signals that someone is not quite finished speaking. In business writing, it can introduce a final detail or reminder. Depending on context, it may sound neutral, friendly, urgent, or slightly dramatic.
Example 1: I have one more thing to mention before we finish the meeting.
Example 2: Could you do one more thing for me and send the updated file?
Example 3: One more thing: remember to bring your identification tomorrow.
Etymology of the phrase one more thing
The phrase combines one, which identifies a single item, more, which expresses addition, and thing, a general noun for an object, matter, idea, or event. Its natural word order follows the standard English pattern in which an adjective or modifier comes before the noun it describes. The expression became especially familiar through conversational speech and media catchphrases.
How to Use One Thing More
“One thing more” is a valid but comparatively uncommon alternative. It places more after the noun, creating a marked word order. Writers may use it for emphasis, rhythm, contrast, or a formal or literary effect.
In ordinary conversation, this phrase can sound old-fashioned or unnatural. It is most acceptable when the speaker wants to emphasize that an additional point is especially important, or when the sentence has a deliberate literary style. In most situations, replacing it with “one more thing” improves clarity and fluency.
Example 1: One thing more must be settled before the agreement is signed.
Example 2: She had one thing more to say before leaving the room.
Example 3: One thing more, and then we can begin the ceremony.
Etymology of the phrase one thing more
“One thing more” is formed from the same basic words as “one more thing,” but its word order reflects an older or more flexible pattern in English. Placing a modifier after a noun has appeared in literary, formal, and poetic writing. The phrase remains understandable today, but it has not become the usual everyday form.
Related Concepts
Understanding word order and modifier placement makes the difference between these two expressions easier to recognize.
- Modifier placement: In English, modifiers such as more usually appear before the noun they describe. This is why “one more thing” sounds more natural than “one thing more.”
- Determiners: Words such as one, each, and another help identify nouns. In “one more thing,” one identifies the quantity while more indicates addition.
- Fixed expressions: Some word combinations become established through repeated use. “One more thing” is a familiar fixed expression, so speakers generally prefer it even though the alternative can be understood.
- Register: Register refers to the level of formality or stylistic effect in language. “One thing more” has a more formal, literary, or dramatic register than “one more thing.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The preferred phrase “one more thing” appears frequently in dialogue, presentations, journalism, and storytelling because it naturally introduces a final point or additional detail.
- Television dialogue: Detective Columbo’s famous style of returning with “one more thing” made the phrase strongly associated with a final question or overlooked clue.
- Technology presentations: Product launches have often used “one more thing” to introduce a surprise announcement or final reveal.
- Business communication: A manager might write, “One more thing before Friday: please submit your expense reports.”
- Fictional dialogue: A character may say, “One more thing before you go” to introduce a warning, confession, or last request.
- Personal messages: An email may end with “One more thing—please call me when you arrive,” using the phrase to add a final reminder.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence: one more thing or one thing more.
- I have __________ to tell you before the meeting ends.
- Could you check __________ before submitting the application?
- She paused and said, “__________ before I leave.”
- In the poem, “__________ remained unsaid” creates a formal, dramatic tone.
- __________: please lock the door when you leave.
Answer Key
- one more thing — This is the natural modern expression for an additional point.
- one more thing — The phrase introduces one additional task.
- one more thing — This is the usual conversational form.
- one thing more — The unusual word order suits the formal, poetic tone.
- one more thing — This phrase commonly introduces a final reminder.
One More Thing Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| one additional thing | One extra item, point, or matter |
| another thing | A different or additional matter |
| one final point | An additional point, especially near the end of a discussion |
| one last thing | An additional matter presented as the final item |
| an extra detail | Additional information added to what has already been said |
One Thing More Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| one additional thing | One further item or matter |
| one further point | Another point added to a discussion |
| one final matter | One additional issue requiring attention |
| one additional detail | One more piece of information |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “one more thing” correct?
Yes. “One more thing” is the standard, natural expression in contemporary American English. It means one additional item, point, request, or detail.
Question 2: Is “one thing more” grammatically correct?
Yes, it can be grammatically correct, but it is uncommon. Its unusual word order may sound formal, literary, old-fashioned, or emphatic. Use “one more thing” in most everyday and professional situations.
Question 3: Should I say “one more thing” or “one last thing”?
Use “one more thing” when you mean an additional point without necessarily promising that it is the final point. Use “one last thing” when you specifically intend to introduce the final item or statement.
Conclusion
Both “one more thing” and “one thing more” can express an additional matter, but “one more thing” is the clear choice for modern everyday and professional English. Reserve “one thing more” for deliberately formal, literary, or emphatic writing. Pro Tip: Choosing the familiar expression helps your communication sound polished, natural, and credible.
