whose sole purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

"whose sole purpose" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to something that does or serves one particular thing or purpose. For example, "The committee, whose sole purpose is to evaluate proposals, will be meeting on Tuesday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She's a bag of love whose sole purpose is to help others.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The laws prevent Microsoft from any practice whose sole purpose is to harm competitors.

The New York Times

These people build websites whose sole purpose is to host ads, not real content.

The Guardian

"You can't negotiate with someone whose sole purpose in life is to kill Americans".

The New York Times

Princess Masako, whose sole purpose is to produce an heir to the throne, is not.

The New York Times - Magazine

You are a "hungry snake" whose sole purpose in life (at least in this game) is to consume frogs.

Cornell University

For example, there are more than two dozen offices at MIT whose sole purpose is to produce publications.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tax authorities are increasingly able to declare null and void any transaction whose sole purpose is the avoidance of tax.

The Economist

Those are called lead generators, whose sole purpose is to get the numbers of verified consumers to sell to telemarketers.

The New York Times

Just a security buffer, whose sole purpose is to block the way in for bombers and terrorists".

The Economist

Much of this revenue comes from e-commerce businesses, whose sole purpose is to sell goods and services online.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whose sole purpose" to clearly define the unique or primary function of a subject, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "whose sole purpose" when multiple purposes exist. "Sole" implies a single, exclusive aim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose sole purpose" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun by specifying its unique or exclusive function. It provides essential information about the subject's intended use, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

20%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whose sole purpose" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for specifying the unique or exclusive function of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a relative clause and commonly appears in news, academic, and science-related content. The key takeaway is to use this phrase when you want to emphasize that something has one, and only one, purpose. Alternatives such as "with the exclusive aim of" or "intended solely for" can be used to add variety to your writing while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expressly for the purpose of

Adds emphasis with "expressly", highlighting the deliberate nature of the purpose.

whose only function is

This alternative emphasizes functionality over purpose.

with the exclusive aim of

Replaces 'sole purpose' with 'exclusive aim', focusing on intent and exclusivity.

intended solely for

Highlights intention and singular use.

with the single goal of

This alternative specifies 'goal', which is a synonym for purpose but sounds more ambitious.

with the only intention of

This alternative specifies intention, which might imply more deliberation than "purpose".

designed specifically to

Emphasizes the design aspect, suggesting a deliberate creation for a single function.

dedicated exclusively to

This focuses on dedication, implying commitment to a single aim.

that is exclusively used for

Focuses on the act of using and its exclusive nature.

uniquely designed for

Focuses on unique design tailored for a singular task.

FAQs

How to use "whose sole purpose" in a sentence?

You can use "whose sole purpose" to define the main function or objective of something. For example: "The committee, whose sole purpose is to evaluate proposals, will meet next week."

What can I say instead of "whose sole purpose"?

You can use alternatives like "with the exclusive aim of", "dedicated exclusively to", or "intended solely for" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "whose only sole purpose"?

Yes, using "only sole" is redundant. The word "sole" already implies that there is only one purpose, so "only" is unnecessary.

What's the difference between "whose main purpose" and "whose sole purpose"?

"Whose main purpose" indicates the primary or most important purpose among potentially multiple purposes. "Whose sole purpose", on the other hand, indicates the only purpose.