How to Use Only Correctly
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
How to Use Only Correctly
Any language has its accepted daily misuses, even as they miff the grammatical purist. In English, we might often deal in statements with solecisms such as:
Please inform Sheila and I about the tickets.
I must of left my backpack on the bus.
Every dog has it’s day.
We’re still in awe of the enormity of the new stadium.
Another prevailing lapse of precision involves the word only:
I only earn fifty dollars for making these pens.
James only dines out at his favorite restaurant.
The theft of the reported $500,000 cache only netted a safe full of IOUs.
While we may be able to interpret the intended meaning from such statements, they could serve us better by not making us mentally revise the proper placement of only ourselves.
Meaning and Placement of the Word Only
The word only is a modifier that frequently functions as an adverb (“without others or anything further; just; exclusively; no more than”) or an adjective (“being the single one or the relatively few of the kind”):
1. Only yesterday they said the Dow Jones was going to increase by 11%. (adverb)
2. Joaquin is the only son of Eli and Sarah. (adjective)
As written, these statements tell us:
1. Just yesterday, the Dow Jones was expected to increase by 11%.
2. Eli and Sarah have one son, Joaquin.
Only can have an emphatic effect on a sentence’s targeted meaning, which is why proper placement becomes important. Let’s relocate only in one of our example sentences:
Joaquin is only the son of Eli and Sarah.
Only is now an adverb modifying is instead of an adjective modifying son. This transforms what is being conveyed: We have the same collection of words, but their order now has a context in which something about Joaquin is being limited or minimized.
To further illustrate the impact of the placement of only, let’s insert the word in each of its possible positions in the sentence “I saw him in the park today”:
1. Only I saw him in the park today.
2. I only saw him in the park today.
3. I saw only him in the park today.
4. I saw him only in the park today.
5. I saw him in only the park today.
6. I saw him in the only park today.
7. I saw him in the park only today.
8. I saw him in the park today only.
The Correct Placement of Only
As we’ve alluded to, sometimes in language—especially when we’re speaking—we often use, understand, and forgive imperfect grammar. In some cases, such as when we’re establishing comfortable conversation, using perfect grammar might even make us and others feel awkward.
Consider the following sentence:
This can only be viewed as a revolution against frozen TV dinners.
Many of us will understand this sentence if spoken to us. However, proper grammar would place “only” before “as”: This can be viewed only as a revolution against frozen TV dinners. This is an instance where idiom may often triumph over purism that runs the risk of sounding pedantic in a social setting.
In formal writing, however, we should always be aiming for accuracy. We will achieve that with “only” by keeping the modifier as close to the modified element as possible.
She ate only potatoes for dinner. (She ate nothing else.)
Bryce will participate only if they sign a waiver. (He will not participate unless the waiver is signed.)
The mayor only signs blank checks. (Likely a poke at the mayor: He or she does nothing else but recklessly spend, in someone’s opinion.)
I am in love only with her. (I love no other person.)
As you may have noticed—and may now continue to notice—the most common misplacement of only tends to be before the verb:
I only earn fifty dollars for making these pens.
James only dines out at his favorite restaurant.
The theft of the reported $500,000 cache only netted a safe full of IOUs.
The grammatical issue is that when only modifies the verb, it instantly restricts the subject’s action: I do nothing else but earn fifty dollars making pens; James does nothing but dine at one restaurant; nothing resulted from the theft but the discovery of IOUs.
In many cases—except, for example, our jab at the mayor’s spending habits—we do not mean to isolate and restrict the action. Rather, we mean to limit another aspect of the sentence.
I earn only fifty dollars for making these pens.
James dines out only at his favorite restaurant.
The theft of the reported $500,000 cache netted only a safe full of IOUs.
Placing only where it belongs for precision can always be justified in our daily formal writing. As it becomes increasingly aware of exception and subtlety, the socially tuned American ear can also recognize when to uphold the principles for targeted meaning and when to bend them, as we might during a weekend backyard barbecue.
Related Topics
The Only Truth
Misplaced Modifiers: What They Are and How to Fix Them
What Are Dangling Modifiers?
Pop Quiz
Determine if the word only is properly placed in the following sentences. If it is, leave the sentence be; if it isn’t, move it to the correct position.
1. Jessica only is twenty-five years old.
2. Raphael is only my son.
3. The scientists will continue their research only if the new budget is approved.
4. The cat only eats one brand of cat food.
5. The Blue Buzzards only scored three runs in the entire series.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. Jessica only is twenty-five years old. Revise: Jessica is only twenty-five years old.
2. Raphael is only my son. Revise: Raphael is my only son.
3. The scientists will continue their research only if the new budget is approved. Leave as is
4. The cat only eats one brand of cat food. Revise: The cat eats only one brand of cat food.
5. The Blue Buzzards only scored three runs in the entire series. Revise: The Blue Buzzards scored only three runs in the entire series.
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“We’re still in awe of the enormity of the new stadium.”
What’s wrong with this sentence?
As advocates of precise use and proper form in daily formal writing, we still recognize “enormity” for its original and lasting definition: “outrageous or heinous character; monstrous wickedness.” Because of the word’s resemblance to “enormousness,” the American parlance has slowly but steadily assimilated “enormity” to mean the same thing. Even when it is not precise, prevailing usage tends to overcome established usage, and in time, we may join the Romans in Rome concerning this word.
For further reference, you can review the following posts:
Enormity | Confusing Words and Homonyms in English
Pleaded vs. Pled and Enormity Defined
The feature on “only” and its eight different placements in “I saw him in the park today” is top-of-the-class educational material. Congratulations to all involved.