as a sole

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a sole" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to being the only one or sole entity in a specific context, but it lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "As a sole contributor to the project, I took full responsibility for its success."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Working as a sole practitioner without ready access to colleagues and peers resulted in professional isolation.

Human Resources for Health

He's good with me, but not as a sole representation.

The New York Times

Ethane reacts with trimethylamine N-oxide affording N,N-dimethylpropylamine as a sole product.

Catalysis Today

(iii) The hospital is not also classified as a sole community hospital under § 412.92.

Cornell University

Strain GPE1 produce biosurfactants and degrades carbazole as a sole source of carbon and energy.

Harvard University

The role of sonography as a sole identifier of breast malignancy remains undetermined.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

Oat hay was fed ad libitum as a sole roughage to all animals.

Animal Feed Science and Technology

AE has not previously been studied as a sole treatment for low back pain patients (LBPP).

The Spine Journal

DXSR produced linear IMO with DP2 DP10 using sucrose as a sole substrate.

Enzyme and Microbial Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Spent brewery yeast was also used as a sole nitrogen source equivalent to 5% CSL.

Bioresource Technology

De Kliek is a woman-owned business currently organized as a Sole Proprietorship.

Bplans

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context to determine the most appropriate synonym; "unique" emphasizes distinctiveness, while "solitary" highlights isolation.

Common error

Avoid using "as a sole" generically. Instead, select a synonym that accurately reflects the intended meaning, whether it's uniqueness, isolation, or exclusivity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a sole" functions primarily as a prepositional modifier, attempting to specify the role or manner in which something is considered or used. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically incorrect, affecting its effectiveness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "as a sole" aims to convey the meaning of "as the only" or "as a single", Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect, which impacts its clarity and effectiveness in written communication. While examples can be found across various domains like science, news, and academia, it's generally recommended to opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "as the only" or "as the single" for better clarity and to avoid potential misinterpretations. Selecting context-specific synonyms will help to enhance the overall quality and precision of your writing. Usage is rare.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as the only

Replaces "sole" with "only", emphasizing uniqueness.

as the single

Substitutes "sole" with "single", indicating one and not multiple.

as a unique

Emphasizes the distinct and unparalleled nature.

as a solitary

Focuses on the isolated and lone aspect.

as the exclusive

Highlights the aspect of excluding others.

as the lone

Similar to "solitary", stressing absence of companions.

as the individual

Highlights separate and distinct character.

as the particular

Focuses on one specific instance.

as a stand-alone

Emphasizes independence and self-sufficiency.

as an isolated

Highlights separation from others or from usual circumstances.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "as a sole"?

You can use alternatives like "as the only", "as the single", or "as a unique" depending on the context.

Is "as a sole" grammatically correct?

While the phrase "as a sole" appears in some contexts, it is often considered grammatically incorrect or awkward. It's better to use clearer alternatives.

How to use "as the only" instead of "as a sole"?

Replace "as a sole" with "as the only" when you want to emphasize that something is the single, unique instance. For example, "He was recognized as the only survivor of the crash".

What's the difference between "as a sole" and "as a single"?

Although related, "as a single" is more directly intended to mean one, not multiple, whereas "as a sole" is likely attempting to convey "only" but misses the mark due to grammatical convention.