purely based

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "purely based" is not correct in standard written English.
It is often used incorrectly as it combines two words that do not logically fit together in this context. Example: "The decision was purely based on financial considerations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This study is purely based on register-based data from the National Patient Register.

BMJ Open

ODDs are purely based on OWL and its RDF-based XML serialization.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

Many of them have criticised their countries' policies as "purely based on costs".

The Guardian

The woman was targeted by this suspect purely based on what she was wearing.

The Guardian

Could these people really be excluding me purely based on this, or had I missed something?

The Guardian

"It was done purely based on customer demand," Mr. Lundberg said.

Independent

"And it will be blown down because it is purely based on speculation".

The New York Times

"In some instances, high prices have been paid purely based on the lack of choice, and competition from other buyers".

The New York Times

Kennedy remains a sceptic: "Anything that's purely based on number crunching would give you the narrative equivalent of sausage stuffing".

The Guardian - Books

This is purely based on traffic to the plus.google.com subdomain, comScore's Andrew Lipsman tells me today.

TechCrunch

Superfish technology is purely based on contextual/image and not behavioral.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While commonly used, consider replacing "purely based" with "solely based" or "entirely based" for greater grammatical accuracy and clarity. This enhances the precision and professionalism of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "purely based" when you mean "solely based" or "entirely based". "Purely" modifies an action, while "solely" or "entirely" better emphasize the exclusive basis or foundation for something. Make sure that you have made the correct substitution, as the error may be misunderstood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase is an adjectival phrase functioning to modify a noun by specifying the basis or foundation upon which something rests. While common, Ludwig AI indicates it's often considered grammatically incorrect. Examples illustrate its use across varied contexts, but the message indicates that alternatives are preferable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "purely based" is frequently used across various contexts, including scientific literature, news media, and business communications. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable, suggesting that alternatives such as "solely based" or "entirely based" are more appropriate. While the phrase is common, adopting the recommended alternatives can improve the clarity and precision of your writing, enhancing its overall quality. Despite the high frequency of use, attention to grammatical correctness can significantly improve the professional tone of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

solely based

Emphasizes a single factor as the only basis for something.

entirely based

Highlights that something relies completely on a specific aspect.

exclusively based

Indicates that something is uniquely determined by a certain element.

completely based

Stresses the total reliance on a particular foundation.

strictly based

Implies a rigid adherence to a specific criteria or principle.

merely based

Suggests that something is only based on one element, potentially minimizing its significance.

only based

Highlights that a factor is the single and unique parameter to base a decision/thought on.

grounded solely

Indicates that something is firmly established on a singular element.

dependent solely

Expresses that the dependence is uniquely and singularly on a factor.

predicated entirely

Implies that something's existence or validity is wholly dependent on a specific aspect.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct alternative to "purely based"?

The phrase "purely based" is often considered incorrect. Better alternatives include "solely based" or "entirely based", which more accurately convey the meaning of something being based on one thing only.

How can I use "solely based" in a sentence?

You can use "solely based" to indicate that something is determined by one factor alone. For example, "The decision was solely based on financial considerations."

What's the difference between "solely based" and "entirely based"?

While both "solely based" and "entirely based" indicate that something is based on one thing, "solely based" emphasizes exclusivity, while "entirely based" highlights completeness. Their meanings are largely interchangeable.

Is "purely" ever used correctly with "based"?

According to Ludwig, the phrase "purely based" is considered grammatically incorrect. It's best to use alternatives like "solely based" or "entirely based" for clarity and correctness.