the sole requirement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the sole requirement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that there is only one condition or criterion that must be met in a particular context. Example: "To apply for this position, the sole requirement is a bachelor's degree in the relevant field."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Therefore, diagnostic criteria should require abrupt onset of a primary CDH of long duration as the sole requirement for NDPH diagnosis [99].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

For dogs entering the United States and Canada, a rabies certificate is the sole requirement.

Cornell University

What makes it significant is that it is not the sole requirement.

Harvard University

Presence of Sgo1/PP2A around the centromeres is thought to be the sole requirement for centromeric cohesin protection.

University of California, Berkeley

The availability of proper experimental datasets is not, however, the sole requirement for validating a CFD code.

Energy Procedia

Instead there is a vad, a self-elected group (the sole requirement for membership is showing up at monthly meetings) that collectively runs the organization.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

But if diligence, modesty, civility and concern for his staff were the sole requirements for the job he held for four years under President Bill Clinton, Warren Christopher would be without peer.

Independent

The sole requirements for the enrichment of full-length Ulp1 at the septin ring were the catalytically inactivating C580S mutation in the catalytic domain of Ulp1 and functional Kap121.

BMC Biology

Somebody is going to have to fix America's trade mess -- the key but not sole requirement for restoring American manufacturing to health.

Huffington Post

Since the optic flow sensor was implemented here to operate inside a feedback loop (the optic flow regulator) about an angular velocity constant value (the optic flow set point), there is a sole requirement with respect to the optic flow sensor: its characteristic has to be a monotonic function of the angular velocity in the range about the optic flow set-point.

Plosone

The sole eligibility requirement is that applicants must have received a degree from a professionally accredited architecture program in the previous 15 years.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the sole requirement" to clearly and concisely communicate that only one specific condition must be met, avoiding ambiguity. For instance, "For entry into the competition, the sole requirement is submission of the entry form."

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary qualifiers or conditions when using "the sole requirement". The phrase itself already indicates exclusivity, so additional phrases like "absolutely the only thing you need" can make the sentence sound redundant and less professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the sole requirement" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It emphasizes that only one specific condition or criterion is necessary, as shown by Ludwig in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the sole requirement" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that clearly indicates only one specific condition needs to be met. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is versatile and appears in various contexts, including science, news media, and academia. When using this phrase, it is crucial to avoid redundancy by not adding unnecessary qualifiers, ensuring the message remains clear and concise. Alternatives such as "the only requirement" or "the exclusive requirement" can be used to convey a similar meaning, depending on the nuance desired. By understanding its function and purpose, writers can effectively use "the sole requirement" to communicate specific and exclusive conditions in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the only requirement

Emphasizes exclusivity, similar to the original phrase, focusing on a single condition.

the single requirement

Replaces "sole" with "single", maintaining the emphasis on one condition.

the exclusive requirement

Highlights that no other requirements exist, reinforcing the uniqueness.

the one and only requirement

Adds emphasis to the singularity of the requirement, intensifying the meaning.

the only necessity

Substitutes "requirement" with "necessity", focusing on what is indispensable.

the primary condition

Shifts focus to the condition aspect, implying it's the main one to fulfill.

the key prerequisite

Uses "prerequisite" to specify a condition that must be met beforehand.

the essential condition

Replaces "sole" with "essential", emphasizing its indispensable nature.

the fundamental need

Highlights that the subject is needed.

the only thing needed

Emphasizes that nothing more is needed.

FAQs

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

You can use "the sole requirement" to emphasize that only one condition needs to be fulfilled. For example, "The sole requirement for accessing the database is a valid user ID".

What phrases are similar to "the sole requirement"?

Similar phrases include "the only requirement", "the single requirement", or "the exclusive requirement". Each emphasizes that there is only one condition to meet.

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

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "The sole requirement" functions as a singular noun phrase, so it takes a singular verb form like "is". For example, "The sole requirement is adherence to the guidelines".

What is the difference between "the sole requirement" and "a key requirement"?

"The sole requirement" means that there is only one condition that must be met. "A key requirement", on the other hand, indicates that it's one of several important conditions, but not necessarily the only one. For example, if good communication skills are "a key requirement", it means that communication is important, but other requirements likely exist as well.