alone able to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "alone able to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is an awkward construction and would typically be rephrased for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Example: "She is alone able to solve this complex problem."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

They are unable to afford commercial rents, let alone able to consider buying a property, however run-down.

The Guardian

Notably, knockdown of the other PARD6 gene included in the screen, PARD6G, was alone able to sustain proliferation (Figure 4c).

Nature

You will probably find yourself alone, able to rekindle the experience of colonial French explorers as they first stumbled upon Khmer antiquity.

The New York Times - Arts

Alone able to remain faithful to the "convictions of his own mind" and soured on deans and department chairs usurping his authority, Sowell ultimately abandons academia altogether.

The New York Times - Books

It made one person playing alone able to evoke the "harmony of a choir, the textural richness of an orchestra and the rhythmic impetus of a dance band".

The New York Times - Books

Although every town in France has a street named for Louis Pasteur, was he alone able to stop people from spitting, persuade them to dig drains, influence them to undergo vaccination?

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

In contrast, neither POS9 alone nor POS6 alone was able to produce detectable expression from the minimal promoter, even with elevated substrate concentration.

BMC Plant Biology

Of the anti-G clones, only G11, when used alone, was able to detect toxin, while G2, G3, G4, G11 and G18 were all able to detect complex.

Plosone

Although Dw1 alone was able to influence growth and flowering of the scion, Dw2 alone was not.

Horticulture Research

The reporter assay showed that GSPE alone is able to drive VEGF transcription.

Free Radical Biology and Medicine

Results reveal that no single mitigation strategy alone seems able to tackle the problem; rather, a pluralistic approach is necessary.

Journal of Environmental Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, rephrase "alone able to" using stronger, more direct alternatives such as "solely capable of" or "only able to". This improves readability and avoids grammatical ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "alone able to" in formal writing. This phrase is often perceived as unnatural. Instead, opt for more conventional expressions to convey the intended meaning. For example, replace "alone able to" with "only capable of" or "uniquely able to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "alone able to" functions as a modifier, attempting to specify a unique capability. However, according to Ludwig, this phrasing is awkward and unidiomatic. Examples in Ludwig show usage across varied contexts, but clearer alternatives exist.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

60%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "alone able to" aims to express a unique capability, Ludwig indicates it is grammatically awkward and not recommended for standard written English. With a "Rare" frequency and drawing from a combination of News & Media and Scientific contexts, it's better to opt for clearer and more conventional alternatives like "only able to" or "solely capable of". The Ludwig AI underscores the importance of choosing precise and idiomatic expressions for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only able to

Simple substitution of "alone" with "only" to indicate a unique capability.

solely capable of

Emphasizes exclusivity in ability; replaces "alone" with "solely" and uses "capable of" instead of "able to".

exclusively able to

Highlights that only one entity has the ability, substituting "alone" with "exclusively".

singularly able to

Uses "singularly" to convey uniqueness in ability instead of "alone".

independently capable of

Focuses on the ability to act without assistance; "independently" replaces "alone", and "capable of" replaces "able to".

unaided able to

Emphasizes the absence of help in performing the action; "unaided" replaces "alone".

by oneself able to

Rephrases to emphasize performing the action without others, using "by oneself" instead of "alone".

on its own able to

Focuses on autonomy and self-sufficiency, replacing "alone" with "on its own".

single-handedly able to

Highlights individual effort and capability, substituting "alone" with "single-handedly".

just able to

Implies a bare minimum level of ability, replacing "alone" with "just".

FAQs

What does "alone able to" mean?

The phrase "alone able to" suggests that someone or something is the only one capable of performing a specific action. However, it's not a standard or particularly clear way to express this idea; alternatives like "only able to" or "solely capable of" are often better.

What are some alternatives to "alone able to"?

You can replace "alone able to" with phrases like "only able to", "solely capable of", or "exclusively able to". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "alone able to" grammatically correct?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "alone able to" is an awkward and uncommon construction. Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct in standard written English. It's generally better to use clearer alternatives to improve readability and avoid confusion.

How can I use "only able to" or "solely capable of" in a sentence?

Here are examples:

• "Only she is "only able to" solve this puzzle."
• "The software is "solely capable of" processing this type of data."