based only on

USAGE SUMMARY

"based only on" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to emphasize that something is the sole determinant of a decision or opinion. For example: I made my decision based only on the merit of the candidate, not their gender or background.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, it is important to point out that this threshold was determined from a receiver operating characteristic curve and based only 2 studies.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Edge or region based approaches [ 12– 14] either alone or in combination with classification approaches [ 15– 18], which are based only T2W or T1W images, are more suitable for segmentation of pre-operative LGGs.

Cancer Imaging

A third putative pri-miR-221/222 transcript of 5.6 kb was mapped based only on H3K4me3 peaks in HMEC cells.

BMC Cancer

This description improves the previous evaluation in [ 16], which was based only on Ty3/Gypsy and Retroviridae INTs.

Biology Direct

However this estimate was based only on 38 ILI patients with laboratory confirmed influenza (Table 2).

Plosone

Such messages, that are based only on UVI1 (i.e. irradiance), rather than UVI and duration, are flawed, and potentially contribute to increased health risks.

Nature

It has to be noted that the statistical analysis is based only on 14 websites and hence not very powerful.

Environmental Sciences Europe

These estimates are very preliminary and based only on 21 exons.

Plosone

This may impact the interpretation of our results, which were based only on 28 patients from Brazil.

Plosone

However, the conclusion for late PNS use is based only on 241 children from six studies.

BMC Pediatrics

6 Mercury expressly stated that its appeal was based only on § 1291, and not on 18 U.S.C. 1292 (relating to interlocutory appeals).

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "based only on", ensure the single factor you're highlighting is clearly and explicitly stated to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "based only on" when there are unstated assumptions that influence the outcome; make all dependencies transparent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "based only on" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to specify the exclusive foundation or justification for an action, decision, or state. Given its structure and function, "based only on" serves to limit the scope of consideration to a singular element.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "based only on" is a prepositional phrase used to emphasize that a decision, conclusion, or assessment is exclusively reliant on a single factor. This phrase is grammatically sound and versatile, fitting into various contexts that require clear and limited justifications. The Ludwig AI confirms that "based only on" is valid in written English. To ensure accurate use, always clearly state the single, influencing factor and consider more nuanced alternatives like "solely based on" or "exclusively based on" for subtle differences in emphasis. This phrase is more about clear communication than complex linguistic structure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

solely based on

Emphasizes exclusivity with "solely", indicating no other factors influenced the base.

exclusively based on

Similar to 'solely based on', highlighting the absence of any other influencing elements.

dependent solely on

Shifts from 'based' to 'dependent', stressing the reliance on a single factor.

contingent only on

Replaces 'based' with 'contingent', indicating a conditionality limited to one aspect.

determined solely by

Focuses on the act of determining, with 'solely' reinforcing the single deciding element.

predicated exclusively on

Uses 'predicated' to suggest a foundational dependence, emphasized by 'exclusively'.

grounded purely on

Emphasizes the foundation with 'grounded' and uses 'purely' to highlight the single element.

restricted only to

Indicates limitation with 'restricted', focusing on the singular element involved.

reliant exclusively upon

Similar to 'dependent solely on', highlighting reliance but with different vocabulary.

hinges exclusively on

Uses 'hinges' to convey the idea of critical dependence on one specific element.

FAQs

How can I use "based only on" in a sentence?

Use "based only on" to emphasize that a decision, conclusion, or assessment relies solely on a specific factor, excluding all other considerations. For example: "The scholarship was awarded "based only on" academic merit".

What are some alternatives to "based only on"?

Alternatives include phrases like "solely based on", "exclusively based on", or "dependent solely on", which all emphasize the single factor influencing a decision or outcome.

When is it appropriate to use "based only on"?

It's appropriate when you want to clearly communicate that a judgment or outcome is determined by one specific element and no other factors were taken into account. Be sure that this is indeed the case.

What is the difference between "based only on" and "primarily based on"?

"Based only on" indicates that a single factor is the sole determinant. "Primarily based on", in contrast, suggests that one factor is the most important, but other factors may also contribute to the outcome. The former is absolute; the latter allows for secondary influences.