it only survives

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it only survives" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that continues to exist or endure under certain conditions or circumstances. Example: "In harsh environments, only the strongest species can adapt, and it only survives through resilience and adaptation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It only survives here thanks to the sand heaps that are scraped up into low, bare banks by an excavator.

Independent

Hence it only survives in seasonal ponds of both brackish and fresh water where all potential predators are wiped out while the tadpole shrimp's eggs live on.

The Guardian

It only survives because the cup at the top was a bit too narrow and the balls would topple off in a breeze.

The Guardian - Opinion

It only survives though institutionalised bribery and if any of the skin bleachers get into trouble it's likely they'll need to make a hefty payout to avoid jail.

Vice

It only survives though institutionalized bribery and if any of the skin bleachers get into trouble it's likely they'll need to make a hefty payout to avoid jail.

Vice

However, a relationship has been proposed between some species of methanogens and infections in the mouth, and Nanoarchaeum equitans may be a parasite of another species of archaea, since it only survives and reproduces within the cells of the Crenarchaeon Ignicoccus hospitalis, and appears to offer no benefit to its host.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In fact, maybe it only survived as long as it did because of its magical sonic and visual qualities.

The Guardian - Music

It only survived by taking out short-term loans at eye-watering rates.Worse than the paperwork, says Yannick Rault, a Frenchman and one of Abramar's partners, was "managing budgets and schedules in a country where everybody's an optimist".

The Economist

It only survived by eating the flesh of cattle that had starved to death.

Huffington Post

It's one of Total Chaos' constants, and it only survived because Prebble was worried the game's longtime fans, who would sometimes take months or years off in-between checking in on the game's progress, would get lost.

Vice

An inconspicuous cushion-forming flowering plant, it which only survives in the UK on Ben Lawers and several places in the surrounding Breadalbane mountains at heights above 900m.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it only survives", ensure that the conditions or factors enabling its survival are clearly stated or implied. This provides context and strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "it only survives" without specifying why it survives. The phrase implies specific circumstances are necessary for its existence, so failing to mention them weakens the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it only survives" functions as a statement of conditional existence. It specifies that the survival of something is dependent on certain conditions or circumstances. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically sound and serves to highlight the precariousness or limitations of that existence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it only survives" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to denote a conditional existence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it highlights the dependence of something's survival on specific factors or circumstances. It's most commonly found in News & Media contexts, but also appears in Wiki and Science. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; ensure the conditions enabling survival are explicit or easily inferred to maximize the impact of your statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it merely persists

This alternative emphasizes the bare minimum of existence, suggesting a lack of thriving or growth.

it barely endures

This highlights the difficulty and fragility of its continued existence.

it exists solely because

This alternative focuses on the single reason or condition that allows for its survival.

it continues to exist only if

This emphasizes the conditional nature of its survival.

its survival hinges on

This indicates that its existence is completely dependent on a specific factor.

it manages to live only through

This suggests a struggle or effort involved in surviving.

it is sustained solely by

This highlights the source or means that keeps it alive.

it remains viable solely due to

This focuses on the viability or feasibility of its continued existence.

it prevails solely because of

This emphasizes its triumph over challenges, but only due to a specific reason.

it ekes out an existence solely through

This suggests a precarious and minimal existence, dependent on a particular factor.

FAQs

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

Use "it only survives" to indicate that something's existence is contingent on specific conditions. For example, "This plant only survives in direct sunlight."

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

You can use alternatives like "it merely persists", "it barely endures", or "it exists solely because" depending on the context.

What does "it only survives" imply?

The phrase "it only survives" implies that the subject's existence is precarious or limited, depending on specific conditions being met. Without these conditions, it would cease to exist.

Is "it only survives" formal or informal?

The phrase "it only survives" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.