one sole reason

USAGE SUMMARY

"one sole reason" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe one main, singular reason. For example, "I can think of only one sole reason why he might not want to go - he's afraid of heights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"People no longer trust that a Palestinian state can be established, for one sole reason: the brutality of the Israeli state and the retreat of the Arab world," said Abdullah el-Ashaal, a former assistant to the Egyptian foreign minister and a professor of international law at Cairo University, who was articulating a widely held position in this region.

The New York Times

"Everyone is here for one sole reason.

Huffington Post

A good writer, one who's not terribly well known, but good in my opinion, Chuck Klosterman, author of Killing Yourself to Live and Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs, says in one of his books that gay marriage should be allowed across the states for one sole reason above all the others: Gay men are the only men left in America who actually want to be married.

Huffington Post

Tevez has got away with his mischief making and spectacular transfer requests for one sole reason – he always shot around the Eastlands pitch like a fly on a horse's arse.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

People would do well to remember that this was an accidental death, not a planned one, and this is the sole reason her child was alone in the house with her.

The Guardian - Opinion

If this were the sole reason, however, one would expect to observe the same phenomenon for the PM10 effect, which was virtually unchanged and continued to remain highly significant.

Environmental Health Perspectives

IN almost every instance the sole reason to stuff one food with another is appearance.

The New York Times

The sole reason was that one of the three series was against San Francisco, which drew 165,602 fans, and not against Montreal, which drew 88,300 last year.

The New York Times - Sports

When you use race, ethnic origin, religion, any one of those factors as a sole reason or the main reason to take an investigative action, that is what I would think of as racial profiling.

The New York Times

Is that the sole reason grandchildren on either side of the divide grow up so differently?

Huffington Post

"Sole" authority means the authority of one (sole, solo, etc).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "one sole reason", ensure that the context supports the exclusivity of the reason to avoid misleading the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "one sole reason" if there are other contributing factors, as it implies there is only one reason. Using phrases like "primary reason" or "main reason" might be more appropriate if multiple factors are involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one sole reason" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a noun, acting as an intensifier to emphasize the singularity and exclusiveness of the reason being presented. Ludwig AI confirms that is correct and can be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "one sole reason" is a phrase used to emphasize that there is only one single factor responsible for a specific outcome. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and usability in writing. While grammatically sound, its frequency is rare, and its use is best reserved for situations where complete exclusivity needs to be stressed. When considering alternative expressions, weigh the degree of emphasis required to maintain the accuracy and intended impact of your statement. Examples from Ludwig show its application in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

single reason

Omits "sole", slightly reducing emphasis on exclusivity.

only reason

Replaces "sole" with "only", providing a more common alternative.

one and only reason

Adds emphasis by using a stronger expression of uniqueness.

exclusive reason

Highlights that no other reason exists.

primary reason

Shifts focus to the main reason, rather than the exclusive one.

main reason

Similar to primary, but with a more general meaning.

chief reason

Emphasizes the importance of the reason.

underlying reason

Suggests a fundamental or less obvious reason.

specific reason

Narrows down the reason to a particular one.

particular reason

Highlights the distinct nature of the reason.

FAQs

What does "one sole reason" mean?

The phrase "one sole reason" means there is only one single, exclusive reason for something. It emphasizes that no other factors are involved.

How can I use "one sole reason" in a sentence?

You can use it to highlight a single determining factor: "The "sole reason" for the company's success was its innovative marketing strategy."

What phrases are similar to "one sole reason"?

Alternatives include "only reason", "single reason", or "primary reason". However, "one sole reason" emphasizes exclusivity more strongly.

When is it appropriate to use "one sole reason"?

Use it when you want to stress that only one factor is responsible for a particular outcome. Be sure that the context supports this exclusivity.