only because of

USAGE SUMMARY

"only because of" is a grammatically correct phrase and it is commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is the sole reason or cause for something else. Example: I was able to finish my project on time only because of the help and support from my colleagues. In this sentence, the phrase "only because of" highlights the fact that the person's colleagues were the only reason they were able to complete their project on time. It emphasizes their importance in the situation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

only because of affirmative action.

The New York Times

It's only because of the movie.

The New York Times - Sports

"Not only because of that, anyway.

The New York Times - Magazine

Was it only because of us?

The New York Times

"Only because of that reason.

The New York Times - Sports

OP Only because of the speculation.

The Guardian - Sport

"I'm here only because of this house".

The New York Times - Arts

Not only because of your own interests, you see.

University of California, Berkeley

Energy development is carried out only because of congressional direction.

Princeton University

The population has grown only because of international immigration.

The Washington Post

But that's only because of the lack of submissions!

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only because of" to clearly and unambiguously indicate the single, most important reason for something. Avoid overusing it in contexts where multiple factors are at play.

Common error

Avoid using "only because of" when there are multiple contributing factors. This phrase suggests a singular cause, so using it in a multi-causal situation is misleading. Instead, use phrases like "partly because of" or "largely due to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only because of" functions as a causal connector, specifically indicating that something is happening or true solely due to the reason that follows. It limits the cause to just one factor, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "only because of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used causal connector. Ludwig AI confirms that it emphasizes that something is happening or true solely due to a specific reason. It's versatile across various contexts, most frequently in news and media, but also in academic settings. To use it effectively, remember to reserve it for situations where a single factor is truly the exclusive cause, avoiding its use when multiple causes are at play. For alternative expressions, consider "purely due to" or "solely as a result of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

purely due to

Emphasizes the lack of any other contributing factors; stronger emphasis on singleness of cause.

solely as a result of

More formal and emphasizes the outcome being a direct consequence.

simply on account of

More informal; suggests the reason is straightforward and not complex.

merely by virtue of

Implies the outcome is achieved or exists through inherent qualities or circumstances.

exclusively owing to

Highlights that nothing else was responsible; suitable for formal contexts.

entirely thanks to

More positive connotation, implying gratitude for the reason.

just by reason of

A more legalistic or philosophical phrasing, emphasizing logical consequence.

on the sole basis of

Highlights that the decision or situation depends only on one factor.

attributable only to

Suggests that the cause can be specifically traced and assigned to one factor.

due exclusively to

Focuses on the single, direct cause without any other influence.

FAQs

How can I use "only because of" in a sentence?

Use "only because of" to indicate that something happens or is true solely due to a specific reason. For instance, "The team won "only because of" the goalkeeper's exceptional performance" shows the goalkeeper's role as the sole reason for the win.

What are some alternatives to "only because of"?

You can use phrases like "purely due to", "solely as a result of", or "simply on account of" as alternatives to "only because of", depending on the level of formality and emphasis you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "only because of"?

Yes, "only because of" is grammatically correct. It's a commonly used phrase to specify that a particular reason is the exclusive cause or condition for something else.

What's the difference between "only because of" and "partly because of"?

"Only because of" indicates a single, exclusive cause, while "partly because of" suggests that the reason is one of several contributing factors. Using "only because of" emphasizes the singularity of the cause, while "partly because of" acknowledges multiple reasons.