Even sole

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Even sole" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a concept of exclusivity or singularity, but it lacks context and clarity. Example: "Even sole ownership of the property does not guarantee success in business."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Yet Brill wants us to believe that unions are the primary — even sole — cause of failing public schools.

The New York Times - Books

For more than a decade, American catfish farmers and federal officials have been fighting Asian imports that are passed on as American catfish or even sole or flounder, but are often something called pangasius.

The New York Times

A comprehensive survey of outsourcing in 2003 in the European banking industry by McKinsey, in collaboration with IBM and the EFMA, found that 44% of banks considered efficiency gains as the primary or even sole outsourcing objective.

A Study of Performance Measurement in the Outsourcing Decision

It may seem an anachronism, but if Google aims to be the main or even sole conduit for communication in the areas it is expanding to, it does have to offer this.

TechCrunch

There are more--who can tell how many --who?s boss is the type of anachronistic rascal who insists on being first, and many --who sole, author on all the journal papers, despite his near-total absence during the research or writing itself.

Science Magazine

It is whispered in France that Macron would not mind having Mélenchon as his principal or even sole opponent.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"In the United States at this time, liberalism is not only the dominant but even the sole intellectual tradition," Lionel Trilling observed in 1950, in the preface of his book "The Liberal Imagination".

The New Yorker

When literary critic Lionel Trilling wrote in 1950 that liberalism was "not only the dominant but even the sole intellectual tradition" in the United States, he meant it as a lament.

Huffington Post

Even the sole of the clown's shoe has a face with a pop-out tongue and animated eyes.

The New York Times

The chief gimmick, perhaps even the sole robust selling point of the Fusion, is the height of its driving position.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Even the sole superpower is not powerful enough to deal with all the world's problems, or even with all the threats posed to its own interests.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more grammatically standard phrases like "even the sole", "even the only", or rephrasing the sentence to avoid the construction altogether for clarity.

Common error

Avoid placing "even" directly before "sole" without an article ("the"). "Sole" typically requires a determiner to function correctly in a sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "even sole" functions as an adjective phrase intending to emphasize the singularity or exclusivity of something. However, according to Ludwig, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect, often requiring the addition of "the" to be grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "even sole" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable. The intended meaning centers on emphasizing singularity or exclusivity. For clearer communication, consider using "even the sole", "even the only", or rephrasing to avoid potential ambiguity. The register varies across different source types, but clarity should be prioritized, particularly in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Even the single

Emphasizes singularity using "single" instead of "sole", providing a more common phrasing.

Even the only

Replaces "sole" with "the only" to emphasize singularity, creating a more standard grammatical structure.

Even the lone

Replaces "sole" with "lone" to denote singularity and isolation, impacting the tone.

Even if only

Shifts the focus to a conditional scenario with a singular element, altering the original meaning slightly.

Even simply the

Uses "simply the" to indicate a straightforward or uncomplicated singular instance.

Even just the

Uses "just the" to convey a minimal or singular instance, changing the emphasis.

Even merely the

Substitutes "sole" with "merely the" to suggest a minimal or basic element, affecting the nuance.

Even exclusively

Changes the structure to focus on exclusivity directly, using an adverb.

Even uniquely

Similar to "exclusively" but emphasizes the unique aspect of the subject.

Even in isolation

Focuses on the isolated nature of the subject, diverging from the original's direct claim of singularity.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the word "sole" in a sentence?

The word "sole" generally needs a determiner like "the". For example, instead of "sole reason", use "the sole reason". This clarifies its function as an adjective describing a unique entity.

What phrases can I use instead of "even sole"?

Consider alternatives like "even the sole", "even the only", or rephrase to use "even uniquely" depending on the context.

Is "even sole" grammatically correct?

The phrase "even sole" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It often requires an article like "the" to be grammatically sound, becoming "even the sole".

What's the difference between "even sole" and "even the sole"?

"Even sole" lacks the necessary article, making it grammatically awkward. "Even the sole" includes the article "the", creating a grammatically correct and clearer expression of singularity or exclusivity.