P2. only but (also but only): (a) only, merely; (b) except only. Now poetic. Source: Oxford English Dictionary (login required) Below are some only but examples from the Corpus of Contemporary American English. Swap in only or nothing but for only but to see: Ultimately, there is only but one choice for you, no? To consume the entire pint. TV ...
Yes, the person would yell once you fell, but only if you fell. "If" and "Only if" used in the same way means the same thing, except that "only if" is more forceful, more compelling. "If and only if" is the most obligatory of the three, in which the action has been distinguished and emphasised, "If, and only if " It's the most forceful of the three
I am from Bangalore and people here tend use the word only to emphasise something in a sentence. For example: We are getting that only printed. What is the proper way to put it?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines but only (which can also occur as only but) as meaning ‘ (a) only, merely; (b) except only’, and comments that its use is now poetical.
Is the meaning of "only that" similar to "unless"? For example: This does not mean that it is freely chosen, in the sense of the autonomous individual, only that there is popular agency in the
(A) Mosquito larvae can only be seen through a microscope. (B) Mosquito larvae can be only seen through a microscope. (C) Mosquito larvae can be seen only through a microscope. As pointed out in this answer, only focusses on another constituent in the sentence, which is usually stressed, and which controls where only can appear in the sentence. The rule is that only may appear either ...
For Only in the upper class, the only restricts in the inclusion (in, as opposed to out). But no matter which you restrict, there are only two groups under discussion -- upperclass women and and female commoners.
However, "one and only one" adds emphasis to the fact that there is only one, and draws attention to it. For example, the student who is the only one who failed, might feel more ashamed if the teacher uses "one and only one", as the teacher might be perceived as purposely drawing attention to that fact, for whatever reason.
When only after, only if, only in this way etc. are placed at the beginning of the sentence for rhetorical effect, the subject and auxiliary are inverted: Only after lunch can you play.
