but not solely

USAGE SUMMARY

"but not solely" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to indicate that something is not the only reason or factor, but it is still important or significant. Example: "The company's success was due to a combination of hard work, innovative ideas, but not solely these factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"She is responsible, but not solely, for the massive gap between the rich and the poor".

Independent

Immigrants, particularly but not solely in the technology industry, have started companies at a disproportionate rate.

The New Yorker

The Celtics were a complete team, fueled, but not solely defined, by their three superstars.

The New York Times - Sports

The role, meaning, and significance of sports involvement is related to but not solely determined by these processes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He's mainly – but not solely – thinking of the man who appointed him as chief inspector, Michael Gove.

The Guardian

So I've done lots of female-strong pieces but not solely with older women, which is great.

The Guardian

Another is voter supression, especially of blacks and minorities, by Republican states, mainly, but not solely, in the South.

Independent

A boom there mostly but not solely fuelled by high energy revenues is sucking in both consumer and investment goods.

The Economist

Slow components of the natural climate variability, associated mainly but not solely with the ocean state, can be predictable.

Nature

Politicians, especially but not solely from the Democratic Party, have been eager to capitalize on those anxieties.

The New York Times

We analyse these narratives through the lens of institutional embeddedness, as expressed mostly, but not solely, by the choice of facilitating agents.

NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but not solely" to acknowledge multiple contributing factors or reasons, enhancing the comprehensiveness and accuracy of your writing. For example, "The project succeeded due to careful planning, dedicated team members, but not solely these elements; market conditions also played a crucial role."

Common error

Avoid presenting the primary factor as overwhelmingly dominant when using "but not solely". Ensure that secondary factors are given appropriate weight to maintain balance and credibility. For example, instead of saying "The failure was due to poor management, but not solely; a minor technical glitch also contributed", provide more details about the technical glitch to accurately reflect its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but not solely" functions as a conjunctional phrase that introduces a qualification or limitation to a preceding statement. It acknowledges that a particular factor is significant, but clarifies that it is not the only determining aspect. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

27%

Science

53%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but not solely" serves as a conjunctional phrase used to temper statements by acknowledging multiple contributing factors. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse writing styles. The phrase appears frequently in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts, indicating its value in balanced and nuanced communication. Common alternatives include "though not exclusively" and "yet not entirely". Effective usage involves presenting a balanced view that considers primary and secondary influences, while avoiding overemphasis on a single factor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

though not exclusively

Replaces "solely" with "exclusively", emphasizing that other factors are involved besides the one mentioned.

yet not entirely

Substitutes "solely" with "entirely", highlighting that the factor in question doesn't account for the whole situation.

however not just

Replaces "solely" with "just", suggesting that the focus is broader than a single element.

although not uniquely

Changes "solely" to "uniquely", stressing that the factor isn't the only one of its kind.

albeit not exclusively

Similar to "though not exclusively", this alternative conveys a sense of concession while introducing additional elements.

while not singularly

Replaces "solely" with "singularly", indicating that multiple factors contribute to the outcome.

if not uniquely

Similar to 'although not uniquely', it introduces a condition where the focus is not on a single, unique element.

but also partially

Shifts the emphasis to partial contribution in addition to other elements.

but not limited to

Indicates that the focus is not just on specific things but may involve other things as well.

in part but not entirely

Highlights that the issue can be attributed to that part but not solely. This alternative stresses the partial nature of the described element.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "but not solely" in a sentence?

Use "but not solely" to indicate that a particular factor is significant, but not the only one influencing the outcome. For instance, "The increase in sales is attributed to the new marketing campaign, "but not solely", as seasonal demand also plays a role."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "but not solely"?

You can use alternatives such as "though not exclusively", "yet not entirely", or "however not just" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "but not solely" in formal writing?

Yes, "but not solely" is grammatically sound and suitable for formal writing. It is commonly used in academic, scientific, and professional contexts to provide a balanced perspective. Ludwig AI confirms it is a usable phrase.

What's the difference between "but not solely" and "but not exclusively"?

While both phrases indicate that a factor is not the only one, ""but not solely"" emphasizes that the factor is important but other aspects also contribute. "but not exclusively" focuses more on the non-exclusivity, highlighting that the factor is shared or not unique.