solely if

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "solely if" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is true or applicable only under a specific condition. Example: "You will receive a bonus solely if you meet your sales targets for the quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Chemical concepts were labeled solely if they provided concrete structural information.

Journal of Cheminformatics

The approach derives a 2D tree, that connects two compound-nodes solely if they are structurally similar (based on fingerprints), not using the activity value.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Executive Jet Management is a charter plane company that recently went through an extensive approval process for relying solely (if the pilot chooses) on iPads for browsing all the charts that used to be paper-only.

TechCrunch

Accordingly, it is unlikely that the pathogenesis of age-related osteoporosis would be attributable solely, if at all, to a failure in this system.

Plosone

The generation of the same genotypes with alternative primers indicates that this inbreeding is unlikely to be explained solely, if at all, by the presence of null alleles.

Evolutionary Applications

Similar to the liver, the increased glucose release by the kidney in the fasting state is solely, if not exclusively, a result of gluconeogenesis 45.

Diabetic Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

If there is one time you should be able to escape the real world and abide solely by the "if it feels good, do it" doctrine, then a festival should surely be it.

The Guardian - Music

"A girl is likely to be held solely responsible if she is assaulted or raped, because she 'didn't stand up for herself' or 'was dressed inappropriately'".

The Guardian

Much as his work seemed to summon intimations of the divine, it was squarely, and solely, statistical; if "Cycles" was a sacred text, it was Levitical, banal.

The New Yorker

After Banks decried Azalea's silence on the matter, the Australian MC said that people shouldn't "judge another's support or 'lack thereof' solely on if they have ranted on twitter about it".

The Guardian - Music

In such a situation, a client request is solely admitted if there are sufficient resources to accommodate it in the transport network.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When clarity is crucial, especially in technical or legal writing, consider using "if and only if" instead of "solely if" for enhanced precision. This eliminates any ambiguity regarding whether the condition is both necessary and sufficient.

Common error

Avoid using "solely if" when multiple factors influence the outcome. Overstating the exclusivity can weaken your argument and mislead readers. Use alternative phrasings like "primarily if" or "mainly if" to indicate that other factors may play a role.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "solely if" functions as a conditional conjunction, introducing a clause that specifies the exclusive condition under which the main clause is true. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in contexts where a single condition determines an outcome.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "solely if" is a grammatically sound conjunction used to indicate that a specific condition is the only one under which a particular outcome is possible. Ludwig AI validates its usage, emphasizing its role in establishing strict conditions. While "solely if" is versatile, it's crucial to ensure that the condition truly is exclusive to avoid misrepresentation. Common alternatives include "only if" and "exclusively if". When it comes to writing guidelines, take in mind that overstating exclusivity is a common pitfall.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only if

This is the most direct and common synonym, indicating the same conditional exclusivity.

exclusively if

Emphasizes the exclusivity of the condition, making it the sole determining factor.

if and only if

A more formal and emphatic way to state a necessary and sufficient condition.

contingent upon

Highlights the dependency of one thing on another specific condition.

conditional on

Similar to contingent upon, but slightly more formal.

provided that

Sets a specific requirement that must be satisfied for something to occur.

just in case

While not a direct replacement, it can sometimes convey a similar conditional aspect, focusing on a specific scenario.

depending on whether

Implies a condition that influences the outcome, offering a broader conditional perspective.

subject to the condition that

A formal way of introducing a condition that must be met.

in the event that

Focuses on a specific future event that triggers a particular outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "solely if" in a sentence?

Use "solely if" to indicate that a condition is the only one under which something is true. For example, "The plant will thrive solely if it receives enough sunlight."

What's a good alternative to "solely if"?

A common alternative is "only if". For example, you could say, "The system will activate "only if" the correct password is entered."

Is it different than saying "if and only if"?

"Solely if" emphasizes that the condition is the single, exclusive requirement. "If and "only if"" is more formal and stresses both necessity and sufficiency of the condition.

Can I use "solely if" in formal writing?

Yes, "solely if" is appropriate in formal writing, particularly when you need to clearly specify that something is dependent on a single, exclusive condition. However, consider "if and only if" in highly formal or technical contexts.