but only only

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but only only" is not correct and is not usable in written English.
It appears to be a typographical error or a repetition that does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I wanted to go to the party, but only only if my friends were going too."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The number of observation visits did not vary by prematurity or underweight, but only only a small proportion of children had 12 GAA monthly visits.

BMC Health Services Research

Rocks that are more spherical tend to fly through the air better than ones that are angular Rocks that are football shaped tend to fly through the air farther, but only only if it can be thrown with a rifled spin.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But only just, and only just in time.

Independent

This time the state is leaning towards John Kerry, but only just and only for now.

The Guardian

This time Labour is back on top, but only just; UKIP was only 0.6% behind.

BBC

When Bond arrives to save the day, he does, but only just, and only with plenty of help from Eve and Mallory, both of them quite adept with pistols.

Huffington Post

On that first night we avoided them, but only just, and only because the rebels know the landscape and can travel cross-country through the olive groves.

Vice

Only only only.

The New Yorker

But government figures show that only only around half (53%) of those who graduated within the past five years are in such jobs.

The Guardian

But it was only only last month that India's parliament got around to ratifying the 1974 Land Border Agreement; ceding any territory whatsoever required a change to the constitution.

The Economist

Ultimately he was able to visit, but only once and only by drawing on his family connections with local tribal figures.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid redundant words. If you intend to express a limitation, use "but only" or a more precise term like "solely" or "exclusively".

Common error

Avoid repeating "only" directly after itself. This creates a confusing and ungrammatical structure. Choose the correct grammatical form and verify that you have not accidentally repeated the term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but only only" functions as a conjunction intended to introduce a limitation or condition. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "only".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but only only" is grammatically incorrect due to the redundant use of "only". As Ludwig AI reports, it is advisable to use "but only" or more precise terms such as "solely" or "exclusively" to express limitations or conditions in both formal and informal writing. Although some examples exist across various sources, the consensus is that the phrase should be avoided for clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but only if

Adds an explicit conditional aspect.

but solely

Replaces the repetition with a single word emphasizing exclusivity.

but just

Offers a more concise way to express limitation.

but exclusively

Emphasizes that something is limited to a specific case.

however, only

Introduces a contrast before limiting the scope.

yet only

Similar to "however, only", but with a slightly different nuance.

although only

Highlights a concession before introducing the limitation.

but in reality only

Adds a sense of unveiling a truth.

but restricted to

Specifies that something is limited or confined.

but limited to

Indicates a boundary or constraint.

FAQs

Is the phrase "but only only" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "but only only" is not grammatically correct. It's considered a redundant expression. You can use alternatives such as "but only" or "but solely".

What is a better way to use "but only only" in a sentence?

Instead of "but only only", use "but only", "but just", or "but exclusively" depending on the intended meaning. These options provide clarity and grammatical accuracy.

What are some similar phrases to "but only only" that I can use?

Similar phrases include "but only if", "but exclusively", or "but solely". These alternatives convey the idea of restriction without the grammatical error.

How does "but only only" differ from "but only"?

The phrase "but only only" is a redundant and ungrammatical construction. In contrast, "but only" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a limitation or condition. The repetition of "only" adds no value and should be avoided.