the sole aim

USAGE SUMMARY

"the sole aim" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to the single, main purpose or goal of something. For example, "The sole aim of this program is to help disadvantaged children get access to quality education."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"That was the sole aim," they said.

The Guardian

They argue that the sole aim of business is profit.

The Guardian

Brother does this with the sole aim of irking me.

The Washington Post

But winning is not the sole aim of leadership.

Harvard Business Review

"The exact description of consciousness is the sole aim of experimental psychology," Wundt wrote.

The New Yorker

The court said he had obtained the funds with the sole aim of "personal enrichment".

The Guardian

The sole aim of the magazine's Arkansas Project was to dig up dirt on the Clintons.

The New Yorker

Yet all this will be done with the sole aim of getting on the evening news.

The Economist

In January 2010, a Facebook campaign appeared with the sole aim of getting White to host Saturday Night Live.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But they do so with the sole aim of maximising the profits of their vastly wealthy companies.

The Guardian - Opinion

The sole aim is to preserve the integrity of Nato European airspace and to safeguard Nato nations from air attacks".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the sole aim" to clearly and concisely communicate the primary purpose, especially in formal writing where precision is crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "the sole aim" if there are secondary objectives, even if they are less important. Overstating the singularity of the aim can undermine your credibility if the context suggests multiple goals.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the sole aim" functions as a noun phrase that identifies and emphasizes the single, most important purpose or objective. It clarifies that there is one primary intention behind an action, decision, or plan. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

24%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the sole aim" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to emphasize a single, primary objective. As shown by Ludwig, it appears most commonly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. To ensure proper usage, confirm that there is indeed only one primary goal before using this phrase. Alternatives such as "the "primary objective"" or "the "main purpose"" can be considered for subtle variations in emphasis. Remember that clarity and precision are key when communicating the intended purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the only goal

Replaces "aim" with "goal", maintaining the singular focus.

the primary objective

Substitutes "aim" with "objective" and "sole" with "primary", emphasizing the main purpose.

the main purpose

Replaces "aim" with "purpose", highlighting the principal reason.

the single intention

Uses "intention" instead of "aim", focusing on the planned objective.

the exclusive objective

Emphasizes that the objective is the only one and excludes others.

the unique focus

Shifts the emphasis to concentration on one specific point or goal.

the overriding ambition

Highlights the ambition as being the most important and dominant.

the central motivation

Focuses on what drives the action or effort, as the primary reason.

the key target

Uses "target" to indicate a specific result that is being aimed for.

the fundamental reason

Highlights the underlying cause or justification as the singular focus.

FAQs

How can I use "the sole aim" in a sentence?

You can use "the sole aim" to emphasize the primary purpose or goal of an action or initiative. For example, "The sole aim of this project is to improve access to clean water".

What are some alternatives to "the sole aim"?

Alternatives include "the primary objective", "the "main purpose"", or "the "only goal"". These phrases can be used to convey a similar meaning, depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "the sole aim is to"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. For instance, "The sole aim is to provide support for underprivileged students".

What is the difference between "the sole aim" and "an aim"?

"The sole aim" indicates that there is only one primary objective, whereas "an aim" suggests that there may be multiple objectives or goals.