merely to cite

USAGE SUMMARY

"merely to cite" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to indicate that the action of citing is done simply or only for a specific purpose. Example: "The author included the reference merely to cite the original source." Alternative expressions include "just to mention" and "only to refer."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Saying this is a dictate of the "Author of Nature" (a phrase used by Lyell and many other contemporary naturalists) is merely to cite the putative ultimate cause; otherwise there are natural ("secondary") causes for the deaths of species.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But optimists have little evidence to cite.

The Economist

Using paint instead of stone relief to cite composers in the Concertgebouw, the Dutch had merely to paint over Gounod's name with Richard Strauss's when Strauss showed up to conduct a century ago.

The New York Times - Arts

Those articles merely described the think tank as "libertarian" and, like Doyle's story, failed to cite its funders.

Huffington Post

Readers are quick to cite examples.

The New York Times

He declined to cite the specific evidence.

The New York Times

To cite this article: M.E.

Comptes Rendus Chimie

To cite this article: J.-F.

Comptes Rendus Chimie

To cite this article: M.-A.

Comptes Rendus Palevol

To cite this article: T.-W.

Comptes Rendus Biologies

To cite this article: C. R. Chimie 6 20033).

Comptes Rendus Chimie

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, use this phrase to preemptively defend against critics who might argue your reference lacked sufficient detail.

Common error

Avoid using "merely to cite" if the citation is actually a cornerstone of your argument. The word 'merely' can imply that the action is trivial or insufficient, which might inadvertently weaken the perceived importance of your sources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "merely to cite" functions as an adverbial infinitive phrase. The adverb 'merely' modifies the infinitive 'to cite' to restrict the scope of the action. According to Ludwig AI, this structure is used to emphasize that the act of referencing is the sole intention of the speaker or writer.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

45%

Academia

30%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "merely to cite" is a precise linguistic tool used to limit the scope of an action to the simple act of referencing. Ludwig AI shows that while it is used across various high-quality domains, it is most at home in Science and Academia, where distinguishing between 'mentioning' and 'analyzing' is crucial for clarity. It is a grammatically correct way to signal that a citation serves as a pointer rather than a deep dive. Writers should use it to ensure their audience understands the specific, limited intent behind a reference, thereby avoiding any ambiguity regarding the depth of their engagement with the cited material.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merely to reference

Substitutes the verb with a common academic synonym.

simply to mention

Softens the tone, making it slightly more conversational.

just to refer to

Uses a phrasal verb and a less formal adverb.

solely to point out

Emphasizes the exclusivity of the action.

only to name

Focuses specifically on the identification of a source or item.

strictly to acknowledge

Suggests that the purpose is limited to giving credit without further commentary.

purely to list

Implies that the citation is part of a cataloging effort.

simply to quote

Specifically refers to the act of repeating verbatim text.

only to provide a citation

Transforms the verb into a noun phrase for formal clarity.

merely as a reference

Uses a prepositional phrase to describe the function rather than the action.

FAQs

How do I use "merely to cite" in a sentence?

You can use it to explain a limited purpose, such as: "The author included the footnote "merely to cite" the original investigator without endorsing their findings."

What is the difference between "merely to cite" and "simply to cite"?

While very similar, "merely to cite" often carries a slightly more defensive or technical tone, whereas "simply to cite" is more neutral and common in general prose.

Can I say "just to cite" instead?

Yes, "just to cite" is a common and correct alternative, though it is less formal than using 'merely'.

Is "merely to cite" appropriate for academic papers?

Absolutely. It is a standard way to define the scope of a reference, often seen in peer-reviewed journals to distinguish between "citing a source" and providing a full literature review.