purely because

USAGE SUMMARY

"purely because" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate the sole reason or cause behind an action. For example: She moved to New York purely because she wanted a change of scenery.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Purely because it has the word "quadrilogy" in it.

Independent

People meet him purely because of his money.

The New York Times - Arts

'Forever' we chose purely because it sounds cool.

Independent

And religion, purely because it causes all wars.

The Guardian - Sport

It's purely because of political pressure from Israel," he said.

The Guardian

It was purely because of 9/11 that it started to be OK.

Independent

"I think that's purely because that's what the old newspapers used to do," says Mr Weiner.

The Economist

"But this time I'm going for Ukip, purely because of Europe and immigration.

The Guardian

And it's purely because his work is homosexual and mine is heterosexual.

The New Yorker

I'm pleased I visited Sumatra Road, purely because I'm at the complete opposite of this spectrum.

The Guardian

"Most customers don't want them [GSHPs] purely because of their environmental credentials.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "purely because", ensure that the context supports the claim that no other factors are involved. Overstating the exclusivity can weaken your argument if other influences are present.

Common error

Avoid using "purely because" if multiple contributing factors exist. Instead, use phrases like "primarily because" or "largely because" to acknowledge other influences. Overstating the exclusivity of the reason can weaken your argument if other influences are present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "purely because" functions as an adverbial conjunction or a causal connector. It introduces a clause that provides the exclusive reason or cause for the statement in the main clause. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates the sole reason or cause behind an action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "purely because" is a grammatically correct and widely used causal connector, primarily found in News & Media contexts. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it serves to indicate the sole reason or cause behind something, emphasizing exclusivity. To ensure clarity and accuracy, use it only when one factor is definitively responsible and avoid overstating its exclusivity if other factors contribute. Related phrases include "solely due to" and "exclusively as a result of". By following these guidelines, writers can effectively use "purely because" to strengthen the logical connections in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

solely due to

Emphasizes that something is only caused by one specific factor.

precisely because

Emphasizes the specific and exact reason for something.

exclusively as a result of

Highlights the restrictive nature of the cause, indicating no other contributing factors.

entirely on account of

Emphasizes that the cause is comprehensive and fully explains the outcome.

specifically since

Highlights a particular reason, often used in a more formal context.

simply by virtue of

Indicates that something is a direct consequence of a specific quality or condition.

only by reason of

Highlights that the stated reason is the singular and exclusive cause.

uniquely attributable to

Implies that the cause is distinct and can only be linked to one source.

merely on the grounds of

Suggests that the reason is basic and potentially insufficient on its own.

just because of

An informal and direct way of stating the reason.

FAQs

How can I use "purely because" in a sentence?

Use "purely because" to indicate the sole reason for something. For example, "She chose that university "purely because" of its strong science program."

What are some alternatives to "purely because"?

You can use alternatives like "solely due to", "exclusively as a result of", or "simply by virtue of" depending on the context to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to use "purely because"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to use "purely because" to specify a single, isolated cause or reason.

What's the difference between "purely because" and "mainly because"?

"Purely because" implies that there is only one reason, while "mainly because" suggests that it is the primary reason, but other reasons may also contribute.