it was only however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was only however" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to attempt to combine contrasting ideas but lacks proper structure and clarity. Example: "It was only, however, a minor setback that we could easily overcome."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was only however, when I had my own child that I began to understand a quote I came across a couple of years ago (often attributed to the great poet Rumi), which said that "life is a balance between holding on and letting go".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is only, however, by bringing all three dimensions together, that we can really explain the origin of innovations.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

It was only in February, however, that Mr. Walsh came forward.

The New York Times

It was only in 1995, however, that the connection between chemokines and HIV infection became clear.

Biological Procedures Online

Drafting it was only the first step, however.

The Guardian

It was only five years ago, however, that Mr. Neuthaler had a more formidable office.

The New York Times

It was only a temporary reprieve, however, as Huddersfield deservedly went 2-1 ahead on 40 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

For City, however, it was only a temporary reprieve.

The Guardian - Sport

It was only in the Journal story, however, that Mrs. Wright reported herself breathless.

The New Yorker

However, it was only moderate.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

However, it was only observed after the abdomen of a rat was fully exposed.

Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "it was only however" in formal writing. Instead, restructure your sentence to use "only" and "however" correctly and separately, ensuring clarity and grammatical accuracy. For example, use: "It was only a minor setback, however, we were able to overcome it".

Common error

Do not place "only" directly before "however" without proper grammatical separation, as this often leads to awkward and incorrect phrasing. "Only" typically modifies the word or phrase immediately following it, while "however" functions as a conjunctive adverb to introduce a contrasting statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was only however" attempts to function as a conjunctive phrase, aiming to introduce a contrasting element while emphasizing a limitation. Ludwig AI states that the phrase is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English. It aims to combine contrasting ideas, lacking proper structure and clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was only however" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. While attempting to convey limitation and contrast, its awkward structure undermines clarity. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, suggesting better-structured alternatives. For clearer communication, rephrase your sentences to correctly position "only" and "however" or use alternatives like "it was just, yet".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was only, yet

Replaces "however" with "yet", maintaining the contrasting element with better flow.

it was solely, yet

Substitutes "only however" with "solely, yet" for emphasis and improved structure.

it was exclusively, yet

Replaces "only however" with "exclusively, yet", indicating uniqueness with better syntax.

it was just, yet

Changes "only however" to "just, yet" for a simpler contrast, correctly structured.

it was merely, yet

Substitutes "only however" with "merely, yet" to show insignificance, improving grammar.

it was simply, yet

Replaces "only however" with "simply, yet" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

it was uniquely, yet

Substitutes "only however" with "uniquely, yet", indicating exclusivity with better syntax.

it was solely, though

Changes "only however" to "solely, though" for emphasis and improved sentence structure.

it was purely, yet

Replaces "only however" with "purely, yet" for a contrast indicating exactness and better syntax.

it was truly, yet

Changes "only however" to "truly, yet" to indicate honesty while fixing the original grammatical error.

FAQs

Is "it was only however" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "it was only however" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to restructure the sentence to use "only" and "however" in a grammatically sound way. Ludwig AI considers it as not correct.

How can I correctly use "only" and "however" in a sentence together?

You can separate the words and rewrite the sentence so that it is grammatically correct. For example, instead of "it was only however", you could say "It was only a minor setback, however, we were able to overcome it", or you can use alternatives like "it was just, yet", "it was merely, yet" or "it was simply, yet".

What does "it was only however" attempt to convey?

The phrase attempts to convey a sense of limitation or contrast. You want to express that something was limited or not as significant as it might seem, while also introducing a contrasting element. However, the phrasing is grammatically awkward.

Are there situations where "it was only however" might be acceptable?

While it is grammatically incorrect and not acceptable in formal writing, you might encounter this phrase in informal speech or poorly edited text. It's generally best to avoid it in favor of clearer, more grammatically correct alternatives such as "it was only, yet".