it was only finally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was only finally" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize that something has occurred after a long wait or delay, but it would need to be part of a more complete and coherent sentence. Example: "After months of anticipation, it was only finally revealed that the project would be completed ahead of schedule."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It was only finally settled on her own authority.

The New York Times

On his appointment in 1813, Robert Southey sought unsuccessfully to end this custom, but, although it was allowed tacitly to lapse, it was only finally abolished by Queen Victoria.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was only finally brought under control following his release from detention.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Construction on Eastbourne pier was opened in 1870 but was only finally completed in 1872, six years after it began.

The Guardian

But the deal was only finally sealed earlier this week.

The Guardian

Mohamed was only finally released over three later when Nasheed resigned on 7 February.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yesterday, it was only when he finally turned to Iraq that he showed he has the talent to dominate his party, injecting a sense of where it must go with a well-judged attack first on the prime minister's conduct and then on the Conservatives as a party which had "failed pathetically" in its fundamental duty of holding the government to account.

The Guardian

It was only after we finally became teammates and then retired that I could tell Tris Speaker of the underlying respect I had for him".

Wikipedia

It was only when I finally got past all of that, and started to hang out downtown, shoot the shit with new friends and generally act like a new arrival trying to find his way around rather than someone in search of some grand truth... it was only then that I started to understand the place.

Huffington Post

It was only then that Washington finally realized that its mercantilist policies had gone too far.

Forbes

It was only slightly satisfying to finally be right about something.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider restructuring the sentence for clarity. Instead of "it was only finally", try "it was only after... that" or "it was only in the end that".

Common error

Avoid using "finally" directly after "only" as it often creates a redundant and unnatural construction. Rephrase to emphasize the condition or the delayed action more clearly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was only finally" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the timing and manner in which an event occurred. It emphasizes the delay or conditionality surrounding the event. Ludwig AI analysis indicates this phrasing may be awkward or unclear, suggesting alternatives for better grammatical flow.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was only finally" functions as an adverbial modifier to emphasize that something happened after a delay or under certain conditions. However, Ludwig AI analysis suggests that the phrase can be grammatically awkward and unclear. Its use is relatively rare and primarily found in news and media contexts. For improved clarity, consider alternatives such as "it was only after", "it was only eventually", or "it was not until". While understandable, restructuring the sentence can enhance the overall flow and readability of your writing. It's best to avoid this phrase in formal or academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was only in the end

Replaces "finally" with "in the end", emphasizing the conclusion of a process or period.

it was only eventually

Substitutes "finally" with "eventually", focusing on the ultimate happening of an event.

it was only after some time

Rephrases to highlight the duration before something occurred.

it was not until later

Emphasizes that something did not happen before a specific point in time.

it was only with great delay

Highlights the significant delay before the event occurred.

it was only in due course

Implies that something happened at the appropriate time, though perhaps after a wait.

it was only upon completion

Focuses on the completion of a task or process as the trigger for a subsequent event.

it was only with much effort

Highlights the effort required before the event took place.

it was only in the fullness of time

Suggests that something happened when the time was right, after a considerable period.

it was only at long last

Emphasizes the extended wait before something finally occurred.

FAQs

Is the phrase "it was only finally" grammatically correct?

While understandable, the phrase "it was only finally" can sound awkward. Consider alternatives like "it was only after... that" or "it was only in the end" for improved clarity.

How can I rephrase "it was only finally" to sound more natural?

You can use phrases such as "it was only after", "it was only eventually", or "it was not until" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "it was only finally" and "it was only then"?

"It was only then" implies a specific moment when something happened, whereas "it was only finally" suggests something happened after a delay. The former is generally more grammatically sound. For example: "it was only then that I understood" is preferable to "it was only finally that I understood".

Is "it was only finally" too redundant?

Yes, the phrase "it was only finally" tends to be somewhat redundant. "Finally" already implies a concluding action after a period of time. Therefore, alternatives like "eventually" or restructuring the sentence are recommended.