sole

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'sole' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as an adjective or a noun. Example sentence: The sole survivor was taken to the hospital for treatment.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The right to use your name and county of residence for the sole purpose of identifying you as the author of your entry and/or as a winner of the Competition.

The Guardian

But we all feel it's crucial that Caroline Lucas, the Green party's sole MP at this time, should be re-elected in her Brighton constituency on 7 May.

The Guardian

The editor of the Guardian, Alan Rusbridger, had earlier informed government officials that other copies of the files existed outside the country and that the Guardian was neither the sole recipient nor steward of the files leaked by Snowden, a former NSA contractor.

The Guardian

After a bruising cabinet discussion on the citizenship issue was leaked to the media, the Abbott government is still considering stripping sole citizens suspected of terrorist offences if they can potentially access citizenship elsewhere.

The Guardian

Investigators have copious amounts of evidence provided by Ajmal Kasab, the sole survivor of the attack team, and David Headley, a Pakistani-American extremist who conducted surveillance operations on the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and other targets in Mumbai.

The Guardian

It comprises just three, including the leader of the anti-power sharing Traditional Unionist Voice, Jim Allister, and the Green party's sole representative, Steven Agnew.

The Guardian

After he was arrested, he said he had been in sole care of the baby but denied hurting her.

The Guardian

At that time, Nato was the sole organisation shaping western security.

The Guardian

He accused British Gas of being the most active in terms of running a dedicated "win back team" whose sole job was to call up customers that were leaving to say "now we can cut your bill".

The Guardian

Australia's sole Olympic triathlon champion Emma Snowsill has officially called time on her storied career.

The Guardian - Sport

There are a handful of Alliance MLAs alongside the sole representatives of the Progressive Unionist party, the Greens and Kieran Deeney, the independent from Omagh.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sole" to describe a person, ensure the context clarifies whether you mean "only" (e.g., the sole survivor) or "unmarried" (especially for women).

Common error

Avoid confusing "sole" with "soul". "Sole" refers to being the only one or the bottom of a shoe, while "soul" refers to the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal. Be mindful of the context to use the correct word.

Linguistic Context

The word "sole" primarily functions as an adjective meaning "only" or "single". It also serves as a noun referring to the bottom of the foot or shoe, or a type of fish. Ludwig AI confirms these usages through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

15%

Travel

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Science

6%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "sole" exhibits versatility, functioning both as an adjective signifying "only" and a noun denoting the bottom of the foot or a type of fish. Ludwig AI analysis reveals that its primary function is to emphasize uniqueness or exclusivity, as validated by the numerous examples. With a neutral to professional register, "sole" finds frequent application in news, sports reporting, and travel writing, confirming its very common usage in diverse contexts. Remember to differentiate its meaning carefully from its homophone "soul" to avoid errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only

Focuses on singularity and being the unique instance, differing by being a more direct synonym.

exclusive

Highlights the aspect of barring others, shifting the emphasis from just being one to excluding others.

single

Emphasizes the numerical aspect of being one, differing in its directness and simplicity.

unique

Stresses the distinctiveness and unmatched nature, adding a layer of unparalleled quality.

lone

Highlights the isolation and lack of companionship, differing by focusing on solitude.

solitary

Similar to lone but with a stronger connotation of intentional separation or isolation.

singular

Focuses on the grammatical aspect of being in the singular form, shifting the context slightly.

unaccompanied

Highlights the lack of company or assistance, bringing in a more social context.

individual

Emphasizes the separateness and distinctness of one entity from others.

isolated

Focuses on the separation from others, both physically and metaphorically, differing in its emphasis on detachment.

FAQs

How to use "sole" in a sentence?

You can use "sole" to mean "only", as in "He was the sole heir to the throne", or to refer to the bottom of a shoe, as in "The sole of my shoe is worn out".

What can I say instead of "sole"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "only", "exclusive", or "unique".

Which is correct, "sole" or "soul"?

"Sole" and "soul" are different words with different meanings. "Sole" means "only" or refers to the bottom of a shoe, while "soul" refers to the spiritual part of a person. The correct word depends on the context.

What's the difference between "sole" and "only"?

While both "sole" and "only" can indicate that there is just one of something, "sole" sometimes carries a stronger sense of exclusivity or being the single, specific one, whereas "only" is a more general term for singleness.