singlestory

Singlestory is a term that may refer to different concepts depending on context. In architecture and real estate, singlestory describes a building with only one floor, a usage often written as single-story or single-storey. Such structures are common in ranch-style homes, bungalows, and some commercial buildings. The design emphasizes ground-level accessibility and often simpler structural systems, which can reduce construction costs. However, single-story designs may require more land area than multi-story layouts and can pose challenges for vertical expansion or yard management.

In literary and media discussions, singlestory is sometimes used informally to denote a narrative that centers on a single, cohesive arc with limited subplots. This usage is not standardized, and many writers prefer terms like single-arc or linear narrative. As a descriptor, singlestory tends to appear in casual criticism or meta-discussion rather than as a formal genre label.

Orthography and usage notes: Editorial practice typically uses single-story as the adjective before a noun (for example, single-story building) and may alternate with one-story. The closed compound singlestory is uncommon in formal writing and is more likely to appear in product names, brand spellings, or informal contexts. In standard reference works, readers are more likely to encounter the hyphenated form or the two-word variant rather than the unhyphenated single word.