absolutely only

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence The phrase 'absolutely only' is correct and usable in written English when you want to emphasize the exclusivity of something.
For example, "He absolutely only uses the best ingredients in his dishes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"We absolutely only want to give it to patients who can benefit," Dr. Perou said.

The New York Times - Health

"If you look at his career," he added, "he absolutely only did things he absolutely believed in.

The New York Times

"Maria felt very strongly then and feels very strongly now, that telling the truth and being up front about it was the absolutely only way to handle the situation," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

This version of Bayes's Theorem shows that in order to evaluate the posterior probability ratios for pairs of hypotheses, the prior probabilities of hypotheses need not be evaluated absolutely; only their ratios are needed.

SEP

There is absolutely only one way that court can decide.

Huffington Post

There is no bad time to start saving up money and it will absolutely only help you out later in life... trust me, I know.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Absolutely, but only if you use that information, which I was able to do while launching my business.

Forbes

This relation has been called "witnessing": properties are not possessed by the system absolutely, but only when it is "witnessed" by another system.

SEP

These criteria should not be interpreted absolutely, but only for the purpose of selecting the model that fits best by searching for the lowest values.

BMC Medical Ethics

"In my view I thought what Rush Limbaugh said was absolutely not only wrong, but it was absolutely repulsive.

Huffington Post

But, if absolutely the only economically viable option, are beta thalassaemia screens using OTOFTs still better than nothing?

British Journal of Haematology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely only" to clearly emphasize a singular condition or possibility, ensuring the context highlights exclusivity. For example, "This medication is absolutely only for external use."

Common error

Avoid using "absolutely only" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more nuanced expressions like "exclusively" or "solely" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely only" functions as an intensifying adverbial modifier. It serves to strongly emphasize the exclusivity or uniqueness of a condition, action, or object. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correctly used to highlight a singular condition.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

36%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "absolutely only" serves as a strong intensifier to emphasize exclusivity. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig, its frequency is relatively uncommon. It appears most often in news and media contexts, with less frequent use in formal academic writing. When using "absolutely only", be mindful of the level of formality required and consider whether alternatives like "exclusively" or "solely" might be more appropriate. However, when you intend to eliminate all doubts, "absolutely only" can prove to be a great option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely only

Replaces "absolutely" with "entirely" to emphasize completeness of limitation.

completely only

Substitutes "absolutely" with "completely", focusing on the thoroughness of the restriction.

totally only

Uses "totally" instead of "absolutely" for a less formal but similar emphasis on limitation.

exclusively only

Emphasizes that something is restricted to a specific group or purpose.

solely only

Highlights that something is limited to one particular thing or reason.

strictly only

Indicates a rigid and unwavering limitation.

absolutely just

Replaces "only" with "just" and focuses on the fairness or appropriateness of a single option or action.

absolutely necessarily

Emphasizes the critical requirement of a single element or action.

certainly only

Emphasizes the confidence in a single course of action or condition.

definitely only

Similar to "certainly only", this phrase conveys a strong sense of restriction and confidence.

FAQs

How can I use "absolutely only" in a sentence?

Use "absolutely only" to emphasize that something is restricted to a single option or condition. For example, "This offer is absolutely only valid until tomorrow."

What phrases can I use instead of "absolutely only"?

Alternatives include "entirely only", "completely only", or "exclusively" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "absolutely only"?

While some may perceive it as slightly redundant, "absolutely only" can be used for emphasis, especially when you want to eliminate any possibility of other options or conditions. However, consider if a single word like "solely" or "exclusively" might be more concise.

What is the difference between "absolutely only" and "only"?

"Absolutely only" adds a stronger emphasis compared to simply using "only". The "absolutely" intensifies the exclusivity, reinforcing that there are no other alternatives.