sole complaint

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sole complaint" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the only issue or grievance that someone has regarding a situation or matter. Example: "The sole complaint from the customers was about the delayed delivery of their orders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

This may explain John Lewis's sole complaint.

The Guardian

Their sole complaint after taking the derby spoils was strictly relative, too.

The Guardian - Sport

It was issued to remedy the sole complaint that Buono had brought forward: erection of a cross on public land.

Cornell University

The sole complaint about the saga that this reader heard was a protest, from a rigorous Jewish critic, that terrorists weren't really so nice.

The New Yorker

In addition to the enormous manufacturing and distribution challenges, Silver has one other pressing problem, namely addressing the sole complaint about the glasses - their rather clunky size and design.

The Guardian

Although respondent's sole complaint is that the police failed to advise him that he would be given free counsel if unable to afford counsel himself, he did not, and does not now, base his arguments for relief on a right to counsel under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Our only complaint about superb Dover sole with beurre blanc, melted shallots and boiled potatoes was the classic presentation; the white on white effect needed some color relief.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, a 29-year-old woman, "Sarah," whose sole medical complaint is serious, nearly lifelong depression and self-harming behavior, has received permission for euthanasia, to take place Friday, according to the RTL Nieuws, a Dutch media outlet.

The Washington Post

More recently, a sole noise complaint meant that Edinburgh arts venue Summerhall had to move a planned outdoor all-day festival – the culmination of a week of gigs in partnership with the National Museum of Scotland's "Rip It Up" exhibition, celebrating the history of Scottish pop – indoors, under threat of a loss of licence.

Vice

South et al. reported the value of employing multiple textual sources from computerized ED records, and not the sole chief complaint, to improve the ability to identify flu-like syndromes [ 24].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Yet when Afghanistan comes up in this election, the sole subject of complaint is that our helicopters don't work as well as they should.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the singular nature of the complaint, consider adding further clarifying information. Example: 'The "sole complaint" was addressed immediately, resolving the customer's only concern'.

Common error

Avoid using "sole complaint" when multiple issues exist. Using it inaccurately dilutes its emphasis and can confuse readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sole complaint" functions as a noun phrase, where 'sole' modifies 'complaint'. It highlights the existence of just one grievance. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

21%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sole complaint" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate the existence of only one grievance or issue. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common use across various contexts. As highlighted by the examples, it frequently appears in news, academic, and scientific sources. While alternatives like "only grievance" and "single complaint" offer similar meanings, it's crucial to ensure that "sole complaint" is used accurately when there genuinely is only one issue at hand to maintain clarity and precision in communication. In order to prevent misuse, remember to avoid using the expression if more than one complaint exists.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only grievance

Emphasizes the grievance aspect while using "only" instead of "sole".

single complaint

Replaces "sole" with "single", highlighting the uniqueness of the complaint.

only objection

Substitutes "complaint" with "objection", focusing on the act of objecting.

lone grievance

Uses "lone" in place of "sole", suggesting isolation or uniqueness.

primary concern

Shifts the focus to the concern, which is the most important.

main concern

Focuses on the concern while emphasizing its importance.

principal objection

Replaces 'complaint' with 'objection' and 'sole' with 'principal', indicating a formal disagreement.

chief criticism

Substitutes "complaint" with "criticism", emphasizing the negative feedback.

single issue

Broadens the term to a general issue, not necessarily a complaint.

unique concern

Highlights the distinctiveness of the concern.

FAQs

How can I use "sole complaint" in a sentence?

You can use "sole complaint" to indicate the only grievance or issue someone has. For example: "The customer's "sole complaint" was the long wait time."

What's a good alternative to "sole complaint"?

Alternatives include "only grievance", "single complaint", or "only objection", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "sole complaint" in formal writing?

Yes, "sole complaint" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly when you want to emphasize that there is only one issue. However, consider stronger alternatives like "principal objection" in very formal contexts.

What is the difference between "sole complaint" and "main complaint"?

"Sole complaint" indicates that there is only one complaint, whereas "main complaint" implies that there are multiple complaints, but one is more significant than the others. The "main complaint" is not necessarily the only one.