lies solely

USAGE SUMMARY

"lies solely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something depends on one thing or person alone. For example, "The success of the project lies solely with the team leader."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Responsibility for this lies solely with the current political leadership.

The New York Times

It lies solely in the way work is typically delegated.

The Economist

The choice of the city lies solely with the IOC.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Unlike undergraduate medical education, responsibility for postgraduate medical education and training lies solely in the NHS.

The Guardian

Not that Stamford's appeal lies solely in 16th-century buildings, of course.

The Guardian - Travel

"But I don't think the fault lies solely with the system".

The New York Times

But the appeal of these blandly photographic scenes, if any, lies solely in their postcard tininess.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Tourre could also be barred from the securities industry, but that decision lies solely with the S.E.C.

The New York Times

"Every contributing cause where Halliburton is named, the operational responsibility lies solely with BP," the statement said.

The New York Times - Science

Mr. Gillespie and Mr. Zweig do not believe that the solution to board laxity lies solely in more regulations.

The New York Times

If the sentence and characterization of Adam Smith is the reviewer's alone, then the error lies solely with the reviewer.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lies solely" to clearly and directly assign responsibility, influence, or importance to a single entity or factor. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "lies solely" when multiple factors contribute to an outcome. Overusing it can oversimplify complex situations and weaken your analysis. Ensure that using "lies solely" is factually correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lies solely" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating where responsibility, importance, or influence is exclusively located. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

30%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lies solely" is a frequently used and grammatically sound phrase that serves to emphasize the exclusive placement of responsibility, influence, or importance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is perfectly usable in written English. It appears most often in news media and scientific contexts, indicating its broad applicability across both formal and informal registers. When writing, use "lies solely" to clearly assign a specific attribute to a single entity, but avoid overuse in complex situations where multiple factors contribute. Consider alternatives such as "rests exclusively with" or "depends entirely on" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rests exclusively with

Emphasizes the exclusive placement of responsibility or authority.

is the exclusive responsibility of

Clearly assigns complete responsibility to a specific entity.

depends entirely on

Highlights the complete dependence on a specific factor.

is exclusively the domain of

Indicates that something falls exclusively within a particular area or authority.

is solely attributable to

Focuses on the single cause or reason for something.

resides entirely within

Indicates that the power or influence is completely contained within something.

is uniquely determined by

Highlights the unique influence of a single factor.

is confined exclusively to

Stresses the limitation of something to a specific area or entity.

is limited solely to

Similar to 'confined exclusively to', emphasizing a restriction.

is purely a function of

Suggests that something is entirely dependent on a particular aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "lies solely" in a sentence?

Use "lies solely" to emphasize that a particular responsibility, influence, or importance rests entirely with a single entity or factor. For example, "The decision lies solely with the manager."

What are some alternatives to "lies solely"?

You can use alternatives such as "rests exclusively with", "depends entirely on", or "is the exclusive responsibility of" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "lies solely" in formal writing?

Yes, "lies solely" is suitable for formal writing as it clearly and directly assigns responsibility or influence, as seen in examples from academic and news sources.

What's the difference between "lies solely" and "lies primarily"?

"Lies solely" indicates that something depends entirely on one factor, while "lies primarily" suggests that one factor is the most important but other factors may also contribute.