count only on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "count only on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when emphasizing that one should rely solely on a specific person or thing. Example: "In times of uncertainty, you should count only on your instincts to guide you."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It is split: Mrs Zia can count only on the support of a minority of BNP leaders.

The Economist

Within the alliance, even the weakest members are defended; outside, Ukraine can count only on political and economic support against Russia.

The Economist

I explained that the term "retirement income" normally refers to income from all sources, not just Social Security benefits (the Social Security Administration says on its Web site that "you should not count only on Social Security for your retirement income").

The New York Times

As he points out, the opening stanza of Auburn University's creed — "I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn" — conveys a certain kind of hostility to the world of ideas in which philosophy and for that matter the rest of the humanities plainly reside.

The New York Times - Magazine

That will require a huge effort to improve education while resisting the temptation to seek ephemeral popularity with unaffordable subsidies for job-creation.To do all this, Mr Toledo can count only on much goodwill at home and abroad, a loose political movement and, with luck, a narrow congressional majority thanks to some shaky alliances.

The Economist

The tack I finally settled on was to make my own money and count only on that amount.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

According to the World Bank, which counts only on-budget security expenditures, just five other countries have military expenditures of more than five per cent of G.D.P., the highest figure being the fifteen per cent spent by oil-rich Oman.

The New Yorker

He shot the moose twice and thought it was down for the count, only to discover on closer inspection that it was actually faking him out.

Vice

Mr. Putin, however, is not counting only on the Europeans.

The New York Times

"It's not enough to cover protests the old-fashioned way, counting only on what your own reporters see, the police version, and images on the big broadcasters … It's necessary to take into account these new sources of information".

The Guardian

Mr Renzi may now be safer counting only on his minority coalition partner, the small New Centre Right (NCD) party, even if that means scrapping the threshold that would exclude the NCD and other tiny parties from parliament.Mr Renzi is ready to use parliamentary time to pass a new law soon.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "count only on" when you want to clearly state that reliance should be placed on a specific source, especially in situations where other options might be tempting or unreliable.

Common error

Avoid using "count only on" when a situation involves multiple reliable factors. Overstating the exclusiveness of reliance can undermine credibility if other dependencies are evident.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "count only on" functions as a verb phrase that specifies exclusive reliance or dependence on a particular entity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a correct and usable construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

26%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "count only on" is a grammatically sound and semantically clear way to express exclusive reliance, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not exceedingly common, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the situation genuinely involves a single, reliable source of support to avoid overstating the case. Remember, alternatives like "rely solely on" or "depend exclusively on" can provide similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rely solely on

Focuses on the exclusiveness of the reliance.

depend exclusively on

Highlights that the dependence is limited to a specific entity.

bank solely on

Implies placing all confidence and resources on something.

trust entirely in

Shifts the focus to the aspect of trust.

place all faith in

Emphasizes complete belief and reliance.

confide solely in

Highlights the aspect of entrusting something to someone.

hinge entirely on

Suggests that something's outcome is completely dependent.

rest solely on

Indicates that everything depends on a single factor.

look exclusively to

Focuses on where one seeks help or support.

have faith only in

Emphasizes a limited and specific belief.

FAQs

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

You can use "count only on" to emphasize that someone should rely solely on a particular person or thing. For example, "In this business, you can "count only on" yourself."

What can I say instead of "count only on"?

You can use alternatives like "rely solely on", "depend exclusively on", or "bank solely on" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "count solely on" instead of "count only on"?

Yes, "count solely on" is a correct and semantically equivalent alternative to "count only on". Both phrases emphasize exclusive reliance.

What's the difference between "count on" and "count only on"?

"Count on" means to rely on something or someone, while ""count only on"" specifies that you should rely exclusively on that particular thing or person, and nothing else.