solely when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "solely when" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs exclusively at a specific time or under certain conditions. Example: "The system will activate solely when the temperature drops below freezing."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

These phones can be used solely when traveling outside the United States.

The New York Times - Tech

To put it in Gaullist terms, Europe works solely when it is France writ large.

The Economist

Short of that, the organization would like to see it used solely when killing someone is the only alternative.

The New Yorker

First, a shorter supply chain means that a company can make things when it wants to, instead of solely when it has to.

The New York Times

It is notable that the ASEF is independent from thermal residual stresses in the case where substrate can continue to sustain the entire external load solely when film cracks first.

Materials & Design

The so-called "reforms" are also grounded in a mistaken underlying assumption that proposals have merit solely when more than a 50% majority of votes are cast "for" them.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The appearance of size differences between larvae might not solely indicate when starved larvae stopped growing, but also when fed larvae increased their growth rate because of food ingestion.

Plosone

Indeed, noticeable isotonic hyponatremia is solely observed when protein or lipid concentrations are extraordinarily high.

Annals of Intensive Care

Growth rate of the fish fed 1CF_1GW was equivalent to those receiving solely CF. When fish received 1CF_2GW, their growth was significantly lower than the control and the 1CF_1GW treatments.

International Aquatic Research

He could have interpreted this research a million ways, but he chooses to take the angle that women are solely responsible when a marriage fails and that divorce is always a bad thing.

Forbes

Indeed, it shocks the conscience". The 16-page decision ends the process of laying off teachers based solely on when they were hired.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "solely when" to clearly indicate that an action or event happens only under a specific condition, leaving no room for exceptions. This enhances precision in technical and formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "solely when" in casual conversation or informal writing, as it can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "only when" or "just when" in these situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "solely when" functions as an adverbial clause, specifically indicating a condition that must be met for something to occur. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

32%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "solely when" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to introduce a very specific and exclusive condition. Ludwig AI analysis, along with multiple real-world examples, validates its correct usage across diverse fields, including science, news, and academia. While versatile, "solely when" tends to be more fitting in formal contexts. When aiming for simpler expression or informal communication, alternatives such as "only when" or "just when" are viable substitutes. Use "solely when" mindfully to precisely express conditionality in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only when

Replaces "solely" with "only", emphasizing exclusivity of the condition.

exclusively when

Substitutes "solely" with "exclusively", highlighting the unique condition.

just when

Replaces "solely" with "just", indicating precise timing or condition.

simply when

Uses "simply" instead of "solely", suggesting straightforwardness of the condition.

merely when

Replaces "solely" with "merely", emphasizing the limited nature of the condition.

purely when

Uses "purely" instead of "solely", highlighting the unmixed nature of the condition.

entirely when

Replaces "solely" with "entirely", emphasizing the completeness of the condition.

completely when

Substitutes "solely" with "completely", highlighting the exhaustive nature of the condition.

uniquely when

Replaces "solely" with "uniquely", emphasizing the distinctive characteristic of the condition.

specifically when

Uses "specifically" instead of "solely", highlighting the detailed nature of the condition.

FAQs

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

Use "solely when" to express a condition that is exclusively true. For example, "The feature activates solely when the user provides consent".

What phrases are similar to "solely when"?

Alternatives include "only when", "exclusively when", or "just when". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "solely when" or "only when"?

"Solely when" is more formal and emphasizes the exclusivity of the condition. "Only when" is a more common and generally applicable alternative. Choose based on the formality of your context.

Can "solely when" be replaced with "if and only if"?

While similar, "if and only if" is more common in mathematical or logical contexts to indicate a biconditional relationship, whereas "solely when" is used more broadly across various domains.