it only indicates

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it only indicates" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something serves as a sign or suggestion rather than a definitive conclusion or fact. Example: "The data collected from the survey is preliminary; it only indicates a trend rather than a final outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

It only indicates the US1_RX_RDY etask cannot get access to its processing thread because the US1_TX_RDY etask is too busy on sending message.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

Not that this will be any consolation to the pessimists, as it only indicates the ineffectiveness to date of attempts to slow down technological progress.

Britannica

The entropy inequality is also a basic concept, but it only indicates the feasibility of a process and, as such, is not expressed as an inventory rate equation.

Modeling in Transport Phenomena A Conceptual Approach

If the biblical Song of Solomon seems audible in the background here, it only indicates the difficulty Eliot faces in achieving the right tone.

Independent

In its present form our method cannot identify polygons in cases where there exist missing or false stars in the analyzed images, in those situations it only indicates that no match was found.

Advances in Space Research

The DC component is not used, as it only indicates the shape position.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

A comment was rated as 'moderately specific' when it only indicated which part of the consultation did or did not go well or what did or did not go well or why a comment was made.

BMC Medical Education

The multimetric index has been adapted in such a way that it not only indicates overall condition but also specific causes of environmental disturbance.

Ecological Indicators

It not only indicates the horizontal locations of boundaries according to the 0° contour line, but also estimates the top depths of buried sources calculated from the horizontal distances from 45° and 90° contour line to 0° contour line.

Journal of Applied Geophysics

It not only indicates that -- on the show --Morgan malready already had a run-in with this group, but it also means the show introduced something from the comics way before readers ever found out.

Huffington Post

An instrument for assessing emotional problems is regarded more useful if it not only indicates individual or group differences in symptom level or severity, but also is sensitive to changes in symptom levels (e.g. due to targeted interventions).

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it only indicates" to present information as a suggestion or possibility rather than a definitive fact. This is particularly useful when dealing with preliminary data or uncertain conclusions.

Common error

Avoid using "it only indicates" when the evidence strongly supports a definitive conclusion. Using it in such cases might undermine the strength of your argument or make the information seem less reliable than it is.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it only indicates" functions as a hedge, softening a statement and conveying that something is suggestive but not definitive. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in contexts where conclusions are preliminary or uncertain.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it only indicates" is a versatile tool for expressing suggestion or possibility rather than certainty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse fields like science, news, and general writing. When using this phrase, remember to avoid overstating the implications and consider alternative expressions like "it merely suggests" or "it simply points to" for subtle variations in meaning. Keep in mind that while it is commonly used, contexts demanding strong conclusions would be better with more assertive and decisive language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it merely suggests

Emphasizes the limited nature of the indication, implying a weaker suggestion.

it simply points to

Highlights the directional aspect of the indication, suggesting a direction or focus.

it just signifies

Replaces 'indicates' with 'signifies', focusing on the meaning or symbolism.

it implies solely

Stresses the exclusivity of the implication.

it hints exclusively

Uses 'hints' instead of 'indicates', adding a subtle nuance of suggestion.

it solely demonstrates

Focuses on demonstration as the act of showing or proving, but in a limited way.

it reveals uniquely

Highlights the revealing aspect, suggesting a unique or specific disclosure.

it suggests exclusively

Replaces 'indicates' with 'suggests', emphasizing a tentative or indirect communication.

it uniquely specifies

Uses 'specifies' instead of 'indicates', focusing on the act of defining or identifying clearly.

it singularly alludes to

Employs 'alludes' for a more indirect and suggestive reference.

FAQs

How can I use "it only indicates" in a sentence?

Use "it only indicates" to suggest a trend or possibility without making a definitive claim. For example, "The preliminary data collected from the survey "it only indicates" a trend rather than a final outcome".

What can I say instead of "it only indicates"?

You can use alternatives like "it merely suggests", "it simply points to", or "it just signifies" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it only indicates" or "it indicates only"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "it only indicates" is more common and natural-sounding. "It indicates only" can sometimes be used for emphasis.

What's the difference between "it only indicates" and "it proves"?

"It only indicates" suggests something without providing definitive proof, while "it proves" asserts that something has been definitively shown to be true. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the strength of the evidence.