it was only possible when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was only possible when" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a specific condition or circumstance that made something achievable or feasible. Example: "The project was successful, but it was only possible when the entire team collaborated effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was only possible when the UAV echo peak did not overlap the Doppler peak of atmospheric echoes.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

In general practice, it was only possible when there were no specific allergic signs, FENO measurement showed low values and the patient was suffering from recurrent respiratory tract infections and cough.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"The president said while South Korea remains open to the possibility of dialog with North Korea, it is only possible when the North shows a change in attitude," Yoon Young-chan, Moon's press secretary, told a briefing.

Huffington Post

In fact, from Lemma 3.1 we see that it is only possible when n is odd.

Advances in Difference Equations

It is only possible when at least k CA nodes put their partial signatures on it.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Honoring his loved ones is not possible through hatred and death, the very instruments of their demise; it is only possible when he lets go and embraces his own fate and the fate of everyone else as determined by larger forces.

Forbes

It is only possible when the equality (lambda_{sjn}=lambda_{s_{beta}j_{beta}{ n}_{beta }}), (beta=1,2,ldots,mu), is valid for some different indices (n_{1},ldots,n_{mu}in{mathbb{N}hbb{N}), and (1leq j_{1},ldots,j_{mu}leqmu}leq m).

Boundary Value Problems

But it is only possible when they are free of political interferences.

Huffington Post

The catch is it is only possible when there is no interpersonal drama between the adults, who must be able to focus less on each other and more on the children.

Huffington Post

Because backwards tracing is needed to attain this result, it is only possible when the tracing delay is shorter than the infectious period (not shown in the Figures).

Plosone

It is only possible when my husband is there and brings me to church by car".

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was only possible when", ensure that the condition you are setting is clear and directly related to the outcome you are describing. This helps maintain clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "it was only possible when" with overly broad or undefined conditions. Be specific about the circumstances that enabled the outcome to ensure your statement is meaningful and understandable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was only possible when" functions as a conditional conjunction, introducing a dependent clause that specifies the necessary condition for the main clause to be true. As supported by Ludwig, it highlights that a particular outcome or event was contingent upon a specific circumstance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was only possible when" acts as a conditional conjunction, introducing a necessary condition for a particular outcome. Ludwig confirms that it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. While not extremely common, it appears in diverse fields like science and news, indicating its versatility across various registers. When using this phrase, clarity is key: ensure the condition you're setting is both specific and directly related to the described event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it could only happen if

Emphasizes the conditional aspect, focusing on the single condition required.

it was achievable only under the condition that

Formal and emphasizes the specific conditions needed for something to be achieved.

it became feasible solely because

Highlights the reason for feasibility, emphasizing the singular cause.

it was contingent on

Focuses on the dependence of an event on a specific factor.

it hinged on

Implies that the outcome depended critically on a particular element.

it was dependent on

Highlights the reliance of one thing on another for its occurrence.

only when this occurred was it feasible

Inverts the structure for emphasis, highlighting the necessary event.

this was the sole enabler for

Stresses that a specific factor was the only thing that allowed something to happen.

it was conditional upon

Similar to 'contingent on' but slightly more formal.

the prerequisite for this was

Focuses on what was absolutely essential beforehand.

FAQs

How can I use "it was only possible when" in a sentence?

Use "it was only possible when" to introduce a necessary condition for an event or action. For example, "The experiment's success "it was only possible when" the temperature was precisely controlled".

What are some alternatives to "it was only possible when"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it could only happen if", "it was contingent on", or "it hinged on", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was only possible when" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was only possible when" is grammatically correct. It introduces a dependent clause specifying the condition that made something feasible.

What's the difference between "it was only possible when" and "it was possible because"?

"It was only possible when" emphasizes a necessary condition, meaning the event couldn't have happened without that condition. "It was possible because" simply states a reason that contributed to the event's possibility, not necessarily the only reason.