sole explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sole explanation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there is only one explanation for a particular situation or phenomenon. Example: "The sole explanation for the sudden increase in sales was the new marketing strategy implemented last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

So this cannot be the sole explanation.

The Guardian

Partly Blair is being discreet, but that is not the sole explanation.

The Guardian

The bowling is weak, but that cannot be the sole explanation.

The Guardian - Sport

Figures like these are not the sole explanation of the woeful current gulf between citizens and their MPs, of course.

The Guardian - Opinion

New work by de Winter and Oxnard rules out the possibility that developmental constraints are the sole explanation for mammalian brain evolution.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

Our results could also reflect a link between education, "grievance", and political protest, although we argue that this is unlikely to be the sole explanation.

Harvard University

This excludes on one hand the possibility that a physical barrier to oxygen is the sole explanation for the decreased oxygen sensitivity in catalyst-polymer films.

Nature

Sometimes a chance event creates some advantageous factor that, in turn, fosters cluster development—although chance rarely provides the sole explanation for a cluster's success in a location.

Harvard Business Review

It did, however, remove evolution as the sole explanation for the origin of man, including some references to evolution, the Big Bang theory and the earth's age.

The New York Times

No one believes that circumcision, which has been widely and traditionally practiced in Africa, could be the sole explanation of such differences.

The New York Times

Neither habitat change, competition for resources or exposure to predation provided a consistent sole explanation for the drastic population crashes shown by five smaller ungulate species (body mass 10 45 kg).

Biological Conservation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sole explanation", ensure that you have thoroughly considered all other possibilities to avoid oversimplifying complex situations.

Common error

Avoid jumping to the conclusion that there is a "sole explanation" without sufficient evidence. Complex phenomena often have multiple contributing factors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sole explanation" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples confirm its role in identifying the unique reason behind a phenomenon or event, often in contexts where other potential explanations are being dismissed or considered insufficient.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

31%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sole explanation" is a commonly used phrase to denote the singular reason or cause for a particular phenomenon. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across various fields, particularly science, news, and academia. While it's important to consider other potential factors in complex situations, using "sole explanation" can effectively highlight the primary or only reason. Remember to use this phrase judiciously and avoid oversimplification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only explanation

Replaces "sole" with "only", emphasizing that there is no other explanation.

single explanation

Substitutes "sole" with "single", stressing the singularity of the explanation.

exclusive explanation

Uses "exclusive" to highlight that this explanation is the only valid one, excluding others.

unique reason

Shifts from "explanation" to "reason", focusing on the cause and its uniqueness.

primary cause

Changes to "primary cause", suggesting this is the main, if not only, reason.

fundamental reason

Indicates that this is the core or most basic reason.

chief cause

Emphasizes that this cause is the most important or leading.

main reason

Focuses on the primary reason, though it allows for the possibility of other contributing factors.

underlying factor

Highlights a fundamental factor that explains something.

one and only reason

Adds emphasis to the singularity of the reason, making it more emphatic.

FAQs

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

You can use "sole explanation" to indicate that there is only one reason or cause for something, for example: "The "sole explanation" for the project's failure was inadequate planning."

What are some alternatives to "sole explanation"?

Alternatives include "only explanation", "single explanation", or "unique reason", depending on the context.

Is it always accurate to attribute something to a "sole explanation"?

Not always. Attributing something to a "sole explanation" can be an oversimplification. Many events or phenomena are the result of multiple factors interacting with each other.

What's the difference between "sole explanation" and "main reason"?

"Sole explanation" implies there is only one reason, whereas "main reason" suggests there are other contributing factors, but one is more significant.