only

Writers often inadvertently create confusion by placing “only” incorrectly in a sentence. It should go immediately before the word or phrase it modifies. “I lost my only shirt” means that I had but one to begin with. “I lost only my shirt” means I didn’t lose anything else. “Only I lost my shirt” means that I was the only person in my group to lose a shirt. Strictly speaking, “I only lost my shirt” should mean I didn’t destroy it or have it stolen—I just lost it; but in common speech this is usually understood as being identical with “I lost only my shirt.” Scrutinize your uses of “only” to make sure you are not creating unwanted ambiguities.

Facebook Twitter Google +

• ruff vs rough
• buttox vs buttocks
• interment vs internment
• benefactor vs beneficiary
• submittal vs submission
• woman vs women
• swam vs swum
• practicle vs practical
• tooken vs took vs taken
• soar vs sore

Definitions

---

• s  being the only one; single and isolated from others
  an only child
• s  exclusive of anyone or anything else
  I'll have this car and this car only
• r  and nothing more
  he was only a child
• r  without any others being included or involved
  a privilege granted only to him
• r  with nevertheless the final result
  He arrived only to find his wife dead
  We won only to lose again in the next round
• r  in the final outcome
  These news will only make you more upset
• r  except that; only this time she came out better"
• r  never except when
  call me only if your cold gets worse
• r  as recently as
  I spoke to him only an hour ago

News & Articles

---

• Only 4 school chief interviews open to public
  Only four interviews for candidates for the McComb School District superintendent’s job will be open to the public.
  June 14, 2013 - McComb Enterprise-Journal
• ‘Only God Forgives’ Brutal New Trailer Drops [Video]
  There’s a lot to expect from Nicolas Winding Refn as suggested by the previous trailers of his Ryan Gosling dark noir Only God Forgives. If going by just the last two trailers that came out, Only God Forgives is the big boy version of his moody film Drive, which also starred Gosling. Although it’s suggested [...] ‘Only God Forgives’ Brutal New Trailer Drops [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr
  June 14, 2013 - The Inquisitr
• New ‘Only God Forgives’ Trailer and Poster: Ryan Gosling’s Out for Revenge
  In the 'Only God Forgives' trailer, Ryan Gosling must avenge the death of a family member. The Bangkok thriller directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive).
  June 14, 2013 - Screen Rant