sole presence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'sole presence' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or environment in which only one person or thing is present. For example: "The patient was left alone in the hospital room, her sole presence a silent reminder of the gravity of her illness."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The loss of Opel would also have left G.M.'s Chevrolet brand as its sole presence in the European market.

The New York Times

The sonication itself or the sole presence of hydrophobe — without sonication — was not enough to avoid the oscillatory behavior.

Polymer

On Sept. 24, as the United States military planned air strikes against Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden warned American troops of the resistance that awaited them, Mr. Lee unexpectedly emerged as ABC's sole presence in northern Afghanistan.

The New York Times - Tech

On thermally stable TiO2 supports, however, it appears clearly that the sole presence of rutile TiO2 support is sufficient to stabilize Ru in its most active form and to prepare a catalyst with high specific activity.

Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

The sole presence of this type of vacancy was achieved when the titanate nanobelts were transformed into the monoclinic TiO2-B phase in which saturated magnetization was also observed.

Solid State Communications

Results revealed the clear dominance of Pseudomonas spp. bacteria in all the mixed-culture sessile communities throughout the whole incubation period, with the in parallel sole presence of L. monocytogenes cells to further increase (ca. 10-fold) their sessile growth.

International Journal of Food Microbiology

In parallel, the high thermal stability of gelatin allows a good preservation of initial silica nanoparticle size upon heating whereas a coarsening process is observed in the sole presence of alginate.

Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces

Some of the heterodimers (PPAR/RXR, LXR/RXR, FXR/RXR) are "permissive" as they become transcriptionally active in the sole presence of either an RXR-selective ligand ("rexinoid") or a NR partner ligand.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids

Dickey tried to play down the idea that he had mastered control of his knuckleball — "Look, it's a knuckleball, and it can be fickle" — and deflected the suggestion that he was an ace, one whose sole presence could jar a team out of a funk.

The New York Times - Sports

If there were disagreements with Keane, Lawwell would not be the sole presence with the authority of Desmond's support behind him.

BBC

Apparently, this exercise was not sufficient to convince many students that the sole presence of wings is not always a useful character to use when constructing a phylogeny.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sole presence" to emphasize that only one entity is present in a particular context, distinguishing it from situations where multiple entities might be expected.

Common error

Avoid using "sole presence" in overly complex sentences where simpler phrasing would improve clarity. For example, instead of saying, "Due to the sole presence of a specific enzyme, the reaction proceeded differently", consider "Because only that enzyme was present, the reaction proceeded differently."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sole presence" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It emphasizes the exclusivity of a single entity being present. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

News & Media

13%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sole presence" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase, denoting that only one entity exists in a particular context. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, with numerous examples demonstrating usage across various domains. It is particularly prevalent in scientific and formal writing, used to emphasize exclusivity and singularity. While alternatives exist, "sole presence" effectively communicates the unique existence of an entity, emphasizing its isolation and significance. Avoiding overuse and ensuring contextual appropriateness will enhance clarity in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exclusive existence

Focuses more on the existence of something to the exclusion of others.

only being

Highlights the singularity of something's being in a particular place or state.

singular occurrence

Emphasizes the uniqueness of an event or instance.

unique instance

Similar to singular occurrence, but can refer to a thing or event.

mere existence

Underlines the bare fact of something existing, often implying it's not significant.

lone occurrence

Suggests an event that happens by itself, without accompaniment.

solitary instance

Highlights the isolation of an event or case.

simple existence

Focuses on the basic fact of existence, often in a philosophical context.

bare presence

Emphasizes the minimal or basic aspect of being present.

individual manifestation

Implies a specific expression or display of something unique.

FAQs

How to use "sole presence" in a sentence?

Use "sole presence" to emphasize that something or someone is the only entity present. For example, "The "sole presence" of the security guard deterred potential intruders."

What can I say instead of "sole presence"?

You can use alternatives like "exclusive existence", "only being", or "singular occurrence" depending on the context.

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

"Sole presence" is generally preferred when emphasizing uniqueness or exclusivity. "Only presence" is acceptable but may lack the same degree of emphasis on singleness.

What's the difference between "sole presence" and "mere presence"?

"Sole presence" indicates that something is the only thing present, while "mere presence" suggests that something is present but perhaps insignificant or insufficient. For example, The "sole presence" of a witness was enough to convict him versus The "mere presence" of a security system isn't enough to deter criminals.