but only further

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but only further" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something is being extended or deepened, but it lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "The investigation did not yield any results, but only further questions arose."

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

That interview was supposed to keep Mr. Edwards's political viability afloat, but only further sank his chances of redemption.

The New York Times - Arts

But only further research will determine whether the victims were Scottish or English soldiers, as the castle changed hands eight times in 46 years in the late 13th and early to mid 14th centuries.

Independent

LightSquared has publicly taken issue with the testing process — they've gone as far as to accuse two government committees of wrongdoing — but only further testing can clear their name.

TechCrunch

So why even try for a "grand bargain" that won't deal with these fundamentals but only further legitimize the GOP mythology and further mislead the public about what's really at stake?

Huffington Post

In the future, these patterns may benefit from directed care management, but only further research with a longitudinal approach will tell.

BMJ Open

The deficits may also be related to this population's reported long term difficulties forming narratives (Dennis & Barnes, 2000; Ewing-Cobbs et al., 1998; Levin et al., 2001), but only further testing will enable us to confirm this hypothesis.

Brain and Language

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But losing only further shakes the shifting sands under Pardew's managerial seat.

The Guardian - Sport

But they will only further discredit Washington over the long run.

The New York Times

But this only further unsettled his country and led to a coup that ousted him the next year.

The New York Times

But the restrictions may only further solidify the changing world of banker pay, rather than shake up compensation practices.

The New York Times

These fears seemed to drive them to grab more power, as a way of protecting themselves, but every step only further antagonized their enemies.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but only further", ensure that the contrast introduced by "but" is clear and that the limitation or addition specified by "only further" is well-defined within the context.

Common error

Avoid using "but only further" in overly complex sentences where the contrast and limitation become difficult to parse. Simplify the sentence structure for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but only further" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase, connecting two contrasting ideas while limiting or specifying the extent of the second idea. It indicates that despite a contrast introduced by 'but', the subsequent action or state is merely an extension or continuation of something else, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but only further" acts as a conjunctive phrase to express a contrast with a limiting effect. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI points out that it may sound somewhat awkward and benefit from rephrasing for improved clarity. It's mostly found in News & Media and Science contexts. To ensure effective communication, consider the best practices such as ensuring clear contrast and avoid using it in complex sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but also further

Adds emphasis by including an 'also' to reinforce the continuation or intensification.

but merely extend

Highlights the limited impact, suggesting a simple continuation without significant change.

but simply continue

Focuses on the uninterrupted continuation of an action or state.

but additionally expand

Emphasizes the broadening scope or range of something.

but also enhance

Highlights the improvement or augmentation of something.

but only serve to

Indicates a limited function or purpose.

but then augment

Focuses on the sequential addition or enhancement.

but instead elaborate

Suggests a detailed explanation rather than a fundamental change.

but exclusively promote

Highlights that something is solely promoting a particular aspect.

but singularly advance

Emphasizes the unique contribution or progression of something.

FAQs

How can I use "but only further" in a sentence?

Use "but only further" to introduce a contrasting idea that leads to an additional outcome or development. For example, "The initial attempt failed, but only further motivated the team." You can also say "but also further".

What phrases are similar to "but only further"?

Similar phrases include "but merely extend", "but simply continue", or "but additionally expand", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "but only further"?

While not incorrect, "but only further" can sound somewhat awkward. It's grammatically acceptable but might benefit from rephrasing for better clarity and flow. Consider alternative phrasings to achieve a smoother sentence structure.

What's the difference between "but only further" and "but also further"?

"But only further" emphasizes a restriction or limitation alongside an additional development, whereas "but also further" places more emphasis on the additive aspect, highlighting that something is not just different, but also leads to greater extent.