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What does this "solely" explain?

"NPR is solely responsible for its content."

Is it, "NPR is responsible only for its content, so we don't know about other info."

Or

"Only NPR is responsible for its content, so CNN or other media companies are not involved here"??

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  • "sole responsibility" is a set expression. It cannot be interpreted in any other way than that "NPR, and NPR alone, is responsible." Context does not allow parsing in other ways.
    – Kris
    Commented Oct 24, 2013 at 6:51
  • sole 2 belonging to one person or group; not shared She has sole responsibility for the project. (oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/sole_1)
    – Kris
    Commented Oct 24, 2013 at 6:57

2 Answers 2

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You have found an interesting ambiguity.

Solely is an adverb modifying the predicate adjective responsible. Omitting solely we have

NPR is responsible for its content.

As you imply, there are at least two interpretations for solely.

NPR alone [and no one else] is responsible for its content.

and

NPR is responsible only for its content [but not for its style/financing/political fallout, etc.]

and possibly,

NPR is responsible only for its content [but not for the content of others]

I think most listeners would intuit the first (and I think that is what is intended), but the latter two are not logically or grammatically excluded.

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Essentially, NPR is responsible only for their content, not content from others.

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    That's not the way I have interpreted that statement in the past. I believe they mean to say that they alone are responsible for what you hear on NPR. I.e., nobody else should be blamed for anything that's said. It all comes down to how the it's is emphasized (or not emphasized) when spoken, and they don't emphasize it.
    – Jim
    Commented Oct 24, 2013 at 3:18
  • Makes sense that way...interested to hear opinions of others as well.
    – Laura Ritchey
    Commented Oct 24, 2013 at 3:23
  • Always try to cite your sources.
    – Kris
    Commented Oct 24, 2013 at 6:57
  • Solely is not only, as your answer recognizes.
    – Tim Lymington
    Commented Oct 24, 2013 at 9:05
  • What do you mean ?
    – user41481
    Commented Oct 24, 2013 at 12:16

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