the sole reason why

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the sole reason why" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the single, primary cause of something. For example: "The sole reason why she decided to quit her job was because of the long hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

It is easy to claim "beyond a reasonable doubt" is the sole reason why George Zimmerman walks free.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is the sole reason why he has a small chance of pulling off an electoral miracle.

The Guardian - Opinion

The sole reason why it's now impossible for any man who is not emaciated and wraith-like to get laid.

The Guardian

"Anytime I see something associated with a marine mammal's kidneys," she added, "that's something that could be in itself the sole reason why the animal succumbs".

The New York Times

Sony firmly believes lack of content was the sole reason why its technically superior Beta video recorders were trounced by good-enough VHS.

The Economist

"For some, that case defines my career and is the sole reason why I should not be supported by anyone in this country," Sharpton writes.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Everyone is quick to jump on the poverty and broken home bandwagon; claiming them to be the sole reasons why underprivileged children find it hard to "come-up" in the school system.

HuffPost

But Pao's story makes clear that sexism is a major reason ― if not the sole reason ― why there are so few women in the industry.

Huffington Post

"This is the sole reason as to why all of us should care for the little ones especially the orphans and why we so much appreciate your support and the technical advice of UNICEF in implementing this project", he added.

Unicef

These are the sole reasons that why currently, every society urges on the study of different methods through which this resources can be utilized successfully.

Comprehensive Energy Systems

That's perhaps counterintuitive to those who have never been on the receiving end of poor agency care as this is basically the sole reason care agencies exist and why they are able to justify taking an arguably exploitative rate of commission, sometimes as high as 50-70 percentt.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the sole reason why" to clearly indicate that a single, specific factor is responsible for a particular outcome. This can strengthen your argument and provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "the sole reason why" when multiple factors contribute to an outcome. Overstating the importance of one factor can weaken your argument if other influences are present. Instead, consider acknowledging other contributing factors while highlighting the primary one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the sole reason why" functions as a causal connector, introducing a clause that explains the single, primary cause or explanation for a particular event or situation. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

11%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the sole reason why" is a causal connector used to emphasize a single, primary cause or explanation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is commonly found in news and media, academic writing, and scientific publications, serving to provide clarity and emphasis in explaining outcomes. While alternatives exist, this phrase effectively highlights exclusivity in causality, and is acceptable in many contexts. Be mindful of overstating causality and ensure the context warrants the emphasis on a single factor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the only reason for

Replaces "sole reason why" with a simpler, more direct phrasing focused on the exclusivity of the cause.

the exclusive cause of

Highlights the exclusivity of the cause and emphasizes that no other cause has contributed to the event.

the primary cause of

Shifts the focus from exclusivity to the significance of the cause, indicating it's the most important.

the main reason that

Similar to primary cause but uses "main" to emphasize importance instead of exclusivity.

the single explanation for

Highlights the uniqueness of the explanation, suggesting there are no other contributing factors.

the one and only reason

Adds emphasis through repetition, underscoring the singular nature of the cause.

the key factor behind

Focuses on the influential aspect of the cause, implying it's a critical element.

the determining factor in

Emphasizes that the factor decides or controls the outcome.

the root cause of

Identifies the fundamental origin of the issue, often implying a deeper analysis.

the underlying reason for

Suggests a less obvious cause that needs to be uncovered.

FAQs

How can I use "the sole reason why" in a sentence?

Use "the sole reason why" to emphasize the single, most important cause of something. For example, "The sole reason why the project failed was a lack of funding."

What are some alternatives to "the sole reason why"?

You can use alternatives like "the only reason for", "the primary cause of", or "the main reason that" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "the sole reason why"?

While some may view it as slightly redundant, "the sole reason why" emphasizes the exclusivity of the cause. The perceived redundancy often reinforces the point, making it acceptable in many contexts.

What is the difference between "the sole reason" and "the sole reason why"?

While similar, "the sole reason" is often followed by a direct statement, whereas "the sole reason why" typically introduces a clause explaining the consequence or outcome. For instance, "The sole reason was funding" versus "The sole reason why it failed was funding".