merely linked to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "merely linked to" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe an indirect relationship between two things, implying that the connection between them is weak. For example, you could say "This problem is merely linked to the rise in temperature, since other factors are also in play."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It added: "Gawker made minimal use of the script – it reproduced no part of it but merely linked to another publication.

The Guardian - Film

Likewise, mathematics will only be magical to students when it is not merely linked to their lives, but when everyday activities become illuminated and when real problems are solved through mathematical processes.

The Guardian

Therefore, it is not easy to claim that all of the findings regarding the oxidative stress parameters are merely linked to the specific disease that is in the interest of research in this area.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Further, Spectrum writes: "Essentially, current records in a quantum blockchain are not merely linked to a record of the past, but rather a record in the past, one that does not exist anymore".

TechCrunch

No additional details were provided on what that means in context – instead, the post merely linked to this page on Quantcast's website which says Tumblr now sees 202,637,856 visits per month in the U.S. and 616,776,768 visits worldwide.

TechCrunch

We showed here that this may be merely linked to the high instability of the duplication events under non-selective conditions.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The journalist Barrett Brown gets it, but he continues to await his sentencing for merely linking to hacked material.

The Guardian - Opinion

Writing for the Guardian from prison in December, Hammond bemoaned that Brown "continues to await his sentencing for merely linking to hacked material".

The Guardian - Tech

Aggregating is one thing, but you can't write a 72-point headline that merely links to the Rolling Stone site and call it journalism.

The New York Times - Magazine

You can embed those videos right into your slide show file, too, rather than merely linking to an external video file on your hard drive.

The New York Times - Tech

Google had argued that it was not in control of the content – it was merely linking to it – and therefore the onus for removing any out-of-date information was on the websites themselves.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "merely linked to" when you want to downplay the significance of a relationship between two entities, indicating that the connection is not a primary or causal one. This can help to avoid overstating the importance of the link.

Common error

Avoid using "merely linked to" when the connection is, in fact, significant or causal. Overusing this phrase can undermine your argument and diminish the importance of valid relationships. Be precise in assessing the strength of the link before choosing this phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "merely linked to" functions as a qualifier, diminishing the strength of a connection or relationship between two or more elements. It is used to indicate that the association is not primary, causal, or significant.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "merely linked to" serves to de-emphasize the strength of a relationship, indicating that the association is neither direct nor substantial. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase, noting its application in both scientific and journalistic contexts. While not extremely common, it finds appropriate use where cautioning against overstating a connection is desired. Related phrases include "tenuously connected to" and "indirectly related to", each providing subtle shades of meaning. When incorporating "merely linked to" into your writing, ensure the context aligns with a genuine need to portray a connection as weak or superficial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indirectly related to

Highlights the lack of a direct causal relationship.

loosely associated with

Suggests a casual or non-essential connection.

incidentally connected to

The connection is a side effect or unplanned.

tenuously connected to

Emphasizes the weakness and fragility of the connection.

superficially tied to

Emphasizes that the connection is only on the surface and not deeply rooted.

distantly related to

Highlights the separation or remoteness of the connection.

nominally connected to

Implies a connection that exists in name only.

weakly correlated with

Implies a slight statistical relationship.

tangentially related to

Indicates a slight or divergent connection.

inconsequentially associated with

Emphasizes the unimportance of the association.

FAQs

How can I use "merely linked to" in a sentence?

You can use "merely linked to" to indicate a weak or superficial connection between two things. For example, "The increase in sales is "merely linked to" the marketing campaign; other factors were also at play."

What are some alternatives to "merely linked to"?

Some alternatives include "loosely associated with", "indirectly related to", or "tenuously connected to". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "merely linked to" in formal writing?

Yes, "merely linked to" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to express a weak or non-causal connection. However, ensure your writing is clear and not dismissive of potentially relevant associations.

What's the difference between "merely linked to" and "directly related to"?

"Merely linked to" suggests a superficial or weak association, while "directly related to" indicates a strong, causal relationship. Choosing the right phrase depends on the actual connection between the two subjects.