one of the... if not the

one of the... if not the
These expressions often occur in comparisons but are frequently used ungrammatically: "It was one of the first, if not the first, attempts to bring together these warring nations." The plural attempts is correct after one of the, but how about "if not the first attempts"? -To correct this flaw, add of the: "It was one of the first, if not the first, of the attempts...." If this correction distorts meaning, and it may, then hold if not the for the end of the sentence: "It was one of the first attempts to bring together these warring nations, if not the first." Another comment: one of the is often a wordy, unnecessary expression: "One of the ideas I have" can be shortened without loss to "My idea" or "One idea I have."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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