rely solely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rely solely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that a certain action or decision is being relied upon exclusively. For example, "We can't rely solely on luck to get us through this difficult situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Don't rely solely on Wikipedia.

The Guardian

They're taught to rely solely upon themselves.

Harvard Business Review

And Saulwick doesn't rely solely on second-hand stories.

The Guardian

Yet Mr. Novak did not rely solely on senior officials.

The New York Times

"We don't want to rely solely on caps and targets.

The Washington Post

We cannot rely solely on the government, parents or educators.

Harvard Business Review

"It's always a tenuous situation," Ms. Robida said, "because we rely solely on the Red Cross to supply blood and they rely solely on volunteers".

The New York Times

The government already plans to rely solely on fee-paying students to finance university humanities.

The Guardian - Opinion

Would-be translators who rely solely on native-speaker status are a bad risk.

The New York Times

Currently, consumers rely solely on government and regulators to protect their interests.

The Guardian - Money

The monetary union cannot rely solely on squeezing troubled countries, which depresses overall demand.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rely solely", ensure the context clearly indicates that there are no other contributing factors or sources of support. This emphasizes the exclusivity of the reliance.

Common error

Avoid using "rely solely" when there are other minor contributing factors. Even if something is 99% responsible, "rely solely" isn't accurate. Opt for phrases like "primarily rely on" or "largely depend on" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rely solely" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the act of depending exclusively on something. It modifies a verb and emphasizes the single source of reliance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly indicates that the action is relied upon exclusively.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rely solely" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that emphasizes exclusive dependence. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in written English, underscoring its role in highlighting single-source reliance. While versatile across various contexts, it's most prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. When employing this phrase, ensure the context genuinely reflects the absence of other contributing factors to avoid overstatement. Consider alternatives like "depend entirely on" or "exclusively depend on" to fine-tune the intended meaning. Remember, clarity and precision are key when indicating singular dependence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

depend entirely on

Replaces "rely" with "depend" and "solely" with "entirely", emphasizing complete dependence.

exclusively depend on

Swaps the order and uses "exclusively" to highlight the single source of reliance.

completely hinge on

Uses "hinge on" to convey dependence, adding a sense of precariousness, and replaces "solely" with "completely".

be fully contingent upon

Employs more formal vocabulary like "contingent" for dependence and "fully" for "solely".

rest exclusively with

Shifts the focus to where the responsibility or power lies, using "rest" to signify dependence.

be uniquely dependent on

Highlights the unique nature of the dependence using "uniquely".

turn only to

Simplifies the phrase to emphasize the singular source of support or assistance.

place all reliance on

Replaces "rely" with "place reliance" for a more formal tone and retains the sense of total dependence.

confine oneself to

Indicates a restriction to a single source or method, implying a deliberate choice.

limit oneself exclusively to

Emphasizes the act of limiting options to a single choice and focuses on exclusivity.

FAQs

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

You can use "rely solely" to emphasize that something depends exclusively on one thing. For example, "The company cannot "rely solely" on advertising for revenue."

What are some alternatives to "rely solely"?

Alternatives include "depend entirely on", "exclusively depend on", or "completely hinge on". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "rely solely and exclusively"?

Yes, "solely" and "exclusively" have similar meanings, so using both together is generally redundant. Choose one or the other for conciseness.

What's the difference between "rely solely on" and "rely heavily on"?

"Rely solely on" means depending on only one thing, whereas "rely heavily on" means depending on something to a great extent, but not necessarily exclusively. The first indicates single-source dependence, the second indicates strong dependence but allows for other sources.