solely attributable to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "solely attributable to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is exclusively the result of a specific cause or factor. Example: "The project's success was solely attributable to the team's hard work and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These facts are not solely attributable to Brendan Rodgers.

The Guardian - Sport

"Not that the whole anti-European backlash is solely attributable to that," said Tilford.

The Guardian

The success of Magadha was not solely attributable to the ambition of Bimbisara and Ajatashatru.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A.I.G. is the very definition of an informed, seasoned investor, with losses solely attributable to its own excesses and errors.

The New York Times

This indifference is not an unusual effect in performances of this late Ibsen work, and it is never solely attributable to the director and actors.

The New York Times

But in recent weeks Mr. Harvey has come under increasing pressure, a turn of events almost solely attributable to Mr. Codey.

The New York Times

Minnesota Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said he thought the increased scrutiny of social media was almost solely attributable to Te'o's situation.

The New York Times - Sports

And what they have chosen to do is take a handful of decades of research and say that this is now evidence of a longer-term trend that's directly and almost solely attributable to manmade activity.

The Guardian

Of course, a city's success is not solely attributable to its mayor, but Livingstone has used the office to set the tone for London's transformation and to put in place the blueprints for sustainable growth.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, political theorists agree that the sum total of a person's well-being is not solely attributable to his or her own talents but is a product of social cooperation, or civic virtue.

Encyclopedia Britannica

International media firms, which had been drawn to the country by the pan-Asian "K-pop" boom, wrote it off.The revival of music sales is not solely attributable to the new law, however.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "solely attributable to", ensure that you can confidently demonstrate the exclusive causal relationship. Avoid this phrase if other contributing factors are present.

Common error

Avoid using "solely attributable to" when there are other contributing factors, as this can oversimplify complex situations and mislead readers. Instead, acknowledge multiple causes or use phrases like "primarily due to" or "largely influenced by".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "solely attributable to" functions as a causal connector, linking an outcome or effect to its exclusive cause. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it clearly states that a specific result is only and completely caused by the mentioned factor. This is evident in examples like "The revival of music sales is not solely attributable to the new law, however."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "solely attributable to" functions as a robust causal connector, indicating that a specific outcome is exclusively the result of a single factor. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used across various contexts. While suitable for formal and neutral registers, writers should exercise caution to ensure the claim of exclusive causation is accurate, as it leaves no space for other potential factors. Alternative phrasing includes "exclusively attributable to" or "only attributable to", offering subtle variations in emphasis. With high frequency across diverse authoritative sources, "solely attributable to" remains a valuable tool for clearly establishing direct causality in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exclusively attributable to

Replaces "solely" with "exclusively", reinforcing the idea that the effect is uniquely caused by the specified factor.

wholly attributable to

Uses "wholly" in place of "solely", emphasizing the completeness of the attribution.

entirely attributable to

Similar to "wholly attributable to", highlighting the completeness of the attribution to a single cause.

only attributable to

Replaces "solely" with "only", slightly reducing the emphasis on exclusivity but maintaining the core meaning of single causation.

solely ascribable to

Substitutes "attributable" with "ascribable", offering a formal synonym that emphasizes the act of assigning a cause or origin.

purely attributable to

Emphasizes that the cause is unmixed or unadulterated, suggesting no other factors are involved.

exclusively resulting from

Specifies that the reason or cause is unique.

directly resulting from

Shifts the focus to the result, indicating a direct and exclusive causal relationship.

uniquely caused by

Highlights that the cause is unique and specific to the outcome.

solely the product of

Indicates that something is the exclusive result of a specific cause or process.

FAQs

How can I use "solely attributable to" in a sentence?

Use "solely attributable to" to indicate that something is exclusively caused by a specific factor. For example: "The project's success was "solely attributable to" the team's dedication."

What phrases are similar to "solely attributable to"?

Alternatives to "solely attributable to" include "exclusively due to", "entirely as a result of", or "only attributable to".

Is it correct to say "partially attributable to" if other causes exist?

No, if other causes contribute, ""solely attributable to"" is inaccurate. Use "partially attributable to" or "contributed to by" to indicate shared causation.

What is the difference between ""solely attributable to"" and "primarily attributable to"?

"Solely attributable to" implies a single cause, while "primarily attributable to" suggests a main cause among others.