not solely

USAGE SUMMARY

"not solely" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that one thing is not the only or complete cause or factor in a situation. For example, "My success was not solely due to hard work but also to luck."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's not solely about immigration.

The New York Times

This dispute is not solely about remuneration.

Independent

Which is a state not solely adolescent!

The New Yorker

Not solely as a monument.

The New York Times - Arts

It's not solely about gender.

The Guardian

Their fight is not solely about Islam.

The New York Times

Success is not solely about money.

The Guardian - Sport

They were not solely from Mr. Abramoff.

The New York Times

But this is not solely Israel's fault.

The Economist

And not solely for her outspoken opposition to the mafia.

The Guardian

But we do not solely rely on investment.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not solely", follow it with a clear indication of what other factors are involved or might be relevant. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "not solely" without providing context or hinting at other relevant factors. Omitting these additional factors can leave your statement incomplete and potentially misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not solely" functions as an adverbial modifier, limiting the scope of a statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to qualify a preceding verb or adjective, indicating that the modified element is not the exclusive or complete cause, reason, or characteristic.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not solely" is a versatile adverbial modifier used to indicate that something is not the only or exclusive factor in a given situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across a wide range of contexts. It is particularly prevalent in news and media, as well as scientific writing, where nuanced and accurate language is essential. When using "not solely", it is important to provide context and hint at other relevant factors to avoid misleading your audience. Alternative phrases include "not exclusively" and "not merely". By following these guidelines, you can effectively incorporate "not solely" into your writing to add precision and depth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not exclusively

Replaces "solely" with "exclusively", maintaining the same meaning of not being the only factor.

not merely

Substitutes "solely" with "merely", emphasizing that something is more than just one thing.

not simply

Similar to "not merely", "not simply" suggests that there are additional factors beyond the obvious one.

not only

A more common alternative, indicating that something else is also involved.

not just

An informal alternative to "not only", conveying the same meaning.

partially, but not entirely

More explicitly states that something is a factor, but not the complete explanation.

not completely

Emphasizes the incompleteness of a single factor in explaining a situation.

among other things

Suggests that there are additional factors without specifying them.

in part

Indicates that something contributes to a situation, but is not the sole cause.

to some extent

Suggests a partial influence or involvement.

FAQs

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

You can use "not solely" to indicate that a particular factor is not the only one responsible for a situation. For example, "The project's success was "not solely" due to funding but also to the team's dedication".

What's a good alternative to "not solely"?

Alternatives to "not solely" include "not exclusively", "not merely", or "not just". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "not solely" or "not only"?

"Not solely" emphasizes that something is not the single factor, whereas "not only" implies there's something else in addition to it. The choice depends on whether you want to downplay the singularity of a factor or introduce another one.

What is the difference between "not solely" and "partially"?

"Not solely" indicates that something is not the only contributing factor, implying other factors are also important. "Partially" simply means that something contributes to a degree, without necessarily denying the importance of other factors. You could say, for example, "The dish's flavor was "not solely" due to salt" or that it was, instead, only "partially due to salt".