Single

[irmamar]

Is "single" a verb? This is the sentence:

This principle insists on singling out and highlighting salient attributes.

Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Is "single" a verb? This is the sentence:

This principle insists on singling out and highlighting salient attributes.

Thanks.

Yes, single is a verb, but only with 'out' (or 'forth' - very uncommon)

To single out means to separate one thing from others. Your example is interesting because the verb is probably incorrect. You can only single out one thing, so you can't single out attributes.

I saw this incorrect use recently in a newpaper - something like Germany, Italy and France were singled out as being ...

[irmamar]

What would you say here instead of 'singling out' here, separating?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

What would you say here instead of 'singling out' here, separating?

selecting

[pjt33]

Or identifying.