sole cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'sole cause' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use 'sole cause' when you want to refer to the only or primary factor that has caused an effect or result. For example: The company's financial mismanagement was the sole cause of their bankruptcy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Government incompetence was not the sole cause.

The Economist

This is the sole cause of the dispute.

The Guardian - Opinion

Here, though, that's not the sole cause of its power.

The New York Times - Arts

But politicians aren't the sole cause of this mess.

Independent

No one is suggesting that neonicotinoids are the sole cause of current bee declines.

Yale University

"Was that the sole cause, or was there a technical problem, which compounded the situation?

The Guardian

Now, this doesn't mean that climate change was the sole cause of a particular event.

The Guardian

The film has this right, but Victoria was not the sole cause.

The Guardian - Film

These fires contribute to the region's haze, but are not the sole cause of it.

The Guardian

"If the H.M.O. is the sole cause of your injury, you can recover," Mr. Andrews said.

The New York Times

It's simply not possible that gerrymandering was the sole cause of this trend.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sole cause" when you need to explicitly deny the existence of contributing factors, making your statement definitive and logically restrictive.

Common error

Avoid using "sole cause" in complex systems like climate change or sociology where multicausality is the norm. In such cases, citing a single factor as the 'sole' origin can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sole cause" functions as a noun phrase usually preceded by a definite article or a possessive adjective. It often serves as the subject complement in a sentence to clarify the singular origin of an event. According to Ludwig AI, it is frequently used in negative constructions to acknowledge that while a factor is important, it is not the only one.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "sole cause" is a robust and grammatically correct phrase widely used across high-quality English sources. Ludwig AI identifies its primary utility in establishing singular accountability or origin. It is particularly useful in scientific and analytical writing where distinguishing between one factor and multiple contributors is essential. While it is often used in the negative to avoid oversimplification (e.g., "not the "sole cause""), it remains a powerful tool for clear and decisive communication. Writers should choose it over less formal synonyms like "only cause" when a professional or academic tone is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sole reason

Shifts focus from physical or systemic causality to a more abstract justification or motivation

only cause

Uses more common, less formal vocabulary while maintaining the exact same meaning

exclusive factor

Emphasizes the exclusion of other variables, often used in scientific or statistical contexts

primary cause

Weakens the claim slightly by suggesting it is the main factor but perhaps not the only one

single origin

Refers specifically to the starting point of a phenomenon rather than the mechanism of result

unique catalyst

Implies the factor is the specific trigger that initiated a change or reaction

solitary source

Highlights the isolated nature of the origin point

lone trigger

More informal and dramatic, often used to describe the immediate spark of an event

exclusive driver

Common in business and economics to describe the force behind a trend

root cause

Focuses on the fundamental or underlying basis, which may not be the only visible factor

FAQs

How to use "sole cause" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject complement to identify a singular origin, such as "The heavy rainfall was the "sole cause" of the flood". More examples on Ludwig show it often appears after a negation like "is not the".

What can I say instead of "sole cause"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "only cause", "sole reason" or "exclusive factor".

Which is correct, "sole cause" or "only cause"?

Both are grammatically correct. "sole cause" is slightly more formal and frequently found in legal or academic writing, whereas "only cause" is preferred in everyday conversation.

What is the difference between "sole cause" and "primary cause"?

"sole cause" means there is literally no other factor involved, whereas "primary cause" suggests it is the most important factor but others may exist.