only based on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only based on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to signify that something is based only on certain criteria, and not anything else. For example, "My decision was only based on my personal experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

This suggests some partition-specific differential tissue shrinkage, possibly related to cell content, exactly as observed in formalin-only based shrinkage49.

Nature

Participants were then categorized into four mutually exclusive groups: 1) normal glucose tolerance, based on FPG <100 mg/dL and HbA1c <5.7%; 2) IFG only, based on FPG 100 125 mg/dL but HbA1c <5.7%; 3) elevated HbA1c only, based on HbA1c 5.7–6.4% but FPG <100 mg/dL; and 4) both IFG and elevated HbA1c, based on FPG 100 125 mg/dL and HbA1c 5.7–6.4%.

Diabetes Care

But the analysis was only based on 132 cases and 505 controls.

The Guardian

First of all, our results were only based on 294 (out of 754) miRNAs that passed stringent QC criteria.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

The evolution of pain was only based on 3 controls (at baseline, at 2 weeks and at 12 weeks).

BMC Anesthesiology

Statistics is for illustration purposes only, based on 33336 pages.

Cornell University

That's because the topline numbers about Republican candidates are only based on 405 registered voters who are Republicans or Republican-leaning.

The Guardian

While the ombudsman's Care and Compassion report is only based on 10 cases, the ombudsman said they were far from isolated examples.

BBC

In contrast, the distinction between syllables belonging to class 3 and 4, if only based on Fig. 9, may be somewhat more involved.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Bases 1 and 3 were closed in December 1944, leaving only Bases 2 and 7.

Wikipedia

Moreover, from the 31 base pair-long reads only bases 3 12, which exhibit a low sequencing error rate, were used for SNP calling.

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "only based on", ensure the basis is clearly defined and credible. Avoid vague references that could weaken your argument.

Common error

Avoid making broad generalizations when your analysis is "only based on" a small sample size or a narrow data set. Acknowledge the limitations of your sources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only based on" functions as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a verb or noun, indicating a restriction or limitation on the factors that influence something. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "only based on" is a prepositional phrase used to specify the limited criteria upon which something is grounded. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While versatile, it's essential to use this phrase with clear, credible information to avoid weakening your argument. Alternative phrases such as "solely on the basis of" or "exclusively determined by" can provide subtle variations in meaning. Proper usage involves acknowledging the limitations of relying "only based on" a narrow set of data.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

solely on the basis of

Emphasizes exclusivity and the singular foundation for a decision or conclusion.

exclusively determined by

Highlights the restrictive nature of the influencing factors, indicating nothing else plays a role.

predicated solely upon

Formally denotes that something is affirmed or based on a particular ground or basis alone.

dependent entirely on

Stresses the complete reliance on a specific element or condition.

restricted to

Focuses on the limitations and the specific criteria that are allowed to influence something.

contingent only upon

Highlights that the outcome is conditional and depends on a specific set of factors and nothing else.

grounded purely in

Suggests that the foundation or justification comes from a single source or idea.

hinges exclusively on

Implies that the outcome or decision depends critically and solely on a specific aspect.

derived solely from

Indicates that the origin or source is limited to a particular element or set of elements.

limited strictly to

Emphasizes a rigid constraint, showing that only certain criteria are considered.

FAQs

How can I use "only based on" in a sentence?

You can use "only based on" to indicate that a decision, conclusion, or assessment relies solely on specific criteria or information. For example, "The diagnosis was "only based on" the patient's symptoms."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "only based on"?

Alternatives include phrases like "solely on the basis of", "exclusively determined by", or "dependent entirely on", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "based only on" or "only based on"?

Both "based only on" and "only based on" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. However, "only based on" might emphasize the restrictive nature of the criteria being considered.

What does it mean when something is "only based on" preliminary data?

It means that any conclusions drawn are tentative and subject to change as more comprehensive data becomes available. Decisions should not be made "only based on" preliminary information.