contains only

USAGE SUMMARY

"contains only" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a group of things that exclusively contains one type or characteristic. For example, "This list contains only items that are red in color."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Álvarez's record contains only one loss.

The New Yorker

The show contains only four main characters.

The New York Times

Each nanostructure contains only one ssRNA molecule.

Nature

New Hampshire, meanwhile, contains only four electoral votes.

The New York Times

It now contains only the cylinder morphology.

Yale University

Floor Debates data contains only OpinionFinder initializations.

Cornell University

The vm directory contains only Makefile s.

Stanford University

His paste contains only olives, olive oil and thyme.

The New York Times

The final official list contains only fifteen risky isotopes.

The New Yorker

The new nucleus thus contains only human DNA.

The New York Times

His Edgewood file contains only the date of the experiment.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contains only" to clearly define the exclusive contents of something, avoiding ambiguity about what else might be included. For example, "The recipe contains only five ingredients."

Common error

Avoid using "contains only" when the list is not exhaustive. For example, instead of saying "The basket contains only apples, oranges, and bananas" when other fruits are also present, use "The basket contains apples, oranges, and bananas, among other fruits."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contains only" functions as a restrictive qualifier. It limits the scope of what is included or present within something, indicating that nothing else is present. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

27%

Science

35%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "contains only" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to indicate exclusivity. As Ludwig confirms, it is commonly found in various contexts, including news, academic writing, and scientific reports. It is crucial to use this phrase when you want to explicitly state that something includes specific items and nothing else. While alternatives like ""comprises only"" or ""is limited to"" exist, "contains only" is a clear and widely accepted choice. Remember to avoid using it when the list is not exhaustive to prevent misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contains solely

Replaces "only" with "solely", emphasizing the exclusive nature of the content. Changes the adverb but has very similar meaning.

includes only

Similar to "contains only", but emphasizes the act of including something within a set limitation. Changes the verb, with an active voice.

comprises only

Substitutes "contains" with "comprises", highlighting the components of something. Changes the verb and emphasizes composition.

constitutes only

Emphasizes that something is formed or composed exclusively of certain elements. Changes the verb, stressing the composition.

exists solely

Replaces "contains" with "exists", emphasizing presence rather than inclusion. Changes the verb and emphasizes being rather than including.

incorporates only

Suggests that something includes specific elements and nothing else. Changes the verb, focusing on inclusion.

encompasses only

Replaces "contains" with "encompasses", suggesting a broader inclusion within limits. Changes the verb, suggesting a wider scope but still limited.

is limited to

Shifts the focus to the limitation itself, rather than the containing action. Changes the verb construction and emphasizes restriction.

is restricted to

Similar to "is limited to", but emphasizes the restriction. Changes the verb construction and emphasizes restriction.

indicates only

Changes the verb to focus on what is shown or pointed out rather than the inclusion of content.

FAQs

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

Use "contains only" to specify that a list or collection is exclusive. For example, "This box "contains only" red apples" means there are no other types of apples in the box.

What are some alternatives to "contains only"?

Alternatives include "exists solely", "comprises only", or "is limited to". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "contains only" or "only contains"?

"Contains only" is generally preferred. "Only contains" can sometimes sound awkward or less formal, though it's not strictly incorrect. The placement of "only" can subtly shift the emphasis of the sentence.

What's the difference between "contains only" and "includes only"?

"Contains only" and "includes only" are very similar. While both indicate exclusivity, "contains" suggests a more comprehensive holding, while "includes" suggests specifying from a wider range of possibilities.