sole because

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sole because" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers due to its lack of clarity and context. Example: "He was chosen for the role sole because of his extensive experience in the field."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I like Sole because it's fun and exciting.

The New York Times

Burt Tansky, the chief executive of Neiman Marcus, said, "We're very disappointed by the decision of Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole, because they have been a driving force behind the growth of Gucci Group, which is extremely important to Neiman Marcus".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"What are we doing to ensure that children in foster care are getting appropriate, trauma-based assessments, not just psychological diagnoses that lead to medications?" But the role of larger group homes and facilities clearly isn't the sole explanation, because, by some measures, they comprise only about 12percentt of foster care placements.

Huffington Post

One needs wide, or extra-wide, toe boxes, thick soles (because the thickness of the bottom of our feet diminishes with age, sorry to say) and straps that ignore the bonier protrusions of the upper foot or ankle.

The New York Times

I should take them in to be re-soled, because every step I take on the mangled pavement whittles away another percentage point of the shoe repair guy's prognosis of its potential to be made anew.

The Guardian - Opinion

Instead it rose to 2369 soles because the rural population fell.

Latin American Economic Review

Verity says: "I started as a sole trader because my business was a hobby, and the income was very small.

The Guardian

Opponents argue that the F.D.A. should be the sole authority because it has the expertise to balance risks and benefits.

The New York Times

Structures found on the bottom of a bed are called sole markings, because they formed on the "sole" of the bed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Cabrera taps in for his third par on the bounce, and suddenly he's the sole leader, because Jason Day has bogeyed the par-three 6th.

The Guardian - Sport

Public records show that Mr. Dyess was married in 2002, but that the mobile home he shared with his wife was transferred in 2007 to her sole ownership because of "dissolution of marriage".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "sole because" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "only because" or "exclusively because" to ensure clarity and credibility.

Common error

Many writers mistakenly use "sole" as an adverb modifying "because", whereas "sole" is an adjective. Replace it with an adverb like "only", "simply", or "exclusively" to create a grammatically correct expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sole because" functions as a causal connector, attempting to link a condition or result to a single, exclusive cause. However, it's grammatically questionable, as noted by Ludwig AI, which suggests that the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "sole because" attempts to convey a singular cause, Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically incorrect. It appears rarely, mostly in news and scientific contexts. It's advisable to use grammatically correct alternatives such as "only because", "exclusively because", or "simply because" to ensure clarity and maintain credibility, especially in formal writing. Several alternatives exist to communicate the intended meaning, varying in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only because

This alternative replaces "sole" with "only", providing a grammatically correct and semantically similar expression of singular causation.

exclusively because

This alternative uses "exclusively" to emphasize the unique causal factor, similar to the intended meaning of "sole because".

simply because

This alternative uses "simply" to express a straightforward reason, offering a more concise and grammatically sound alternative.

merely because

This alternative uses "merely" to indicate that the reason is the only one, often with a sense of understatement.

just because

This is an informal way of saying "only because", often used to dismiss a reason as inadequate.

purely because

This alternative uses "purely" to emphasize the unmixed or unadulterated nature of the reason.

entirely because

This alternative uses "entirely" to indicate that the reason is complete and comprehensive.

solely due to the fact that

This provides a more formal and expanded version, replacing "because" with "due to the fact that" for increased emphasis.

the only reason is that

This alternative restructures the sentence to explicitly state that there is only one reason.

attributable solely to

This provides a more formal alternative, often used in academic or scientific contexts, to indicate exclusive causation.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "sole" to indicate a single reason?

Instead of the incorrect phrase "sole because", use alternatives like "only because" or "exclusively because" to clearly convey that there is only one reason.

Is "sole because" grammatically correct?

No, "sole because" is not grammatically correct. The word "sole" is an adjective and should not be used to directly modify "because". Use phrases like "only because" or "simply because" instead.

What can I say instead of "sole because" in a formal context?

In a formal context, replace "sole because" with phrases such as "solely due to", "attributable solely to", or "exclusively because of" to maintain a professional tone.

How does "sole because" differ from "only because"?

While the intended meaning is similar, "sole because" is grammatically incorrect. "Only because" is the correct way to express that something is due to a single reason. "Sole" needs to modify a noun, while "only" can function as an adverb.