it was only when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "It was only when" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something happened after a certain event. For example: "It was only when the storm passed that we were able to get back to our camping trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was only when we reached here we met up".

Independent

It was only when switching to neuron that these problems started manifesting itself.

Yale University

It was only when we found Studioilse [Crawford's firm] that everything clicked into place.

The New York Times

It was only when my wife asked him that, for some reason, he changed his mind.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was only when I was halfway through St Joseph's that corporal punishment was abolished.

Independent

It was only when he carried out a terrorist attack that he stood out.

The New Yorker

It was only when I had children that any happiness at all returned to my life".

The New Yorker

It was only when Malalai took to the battlefield that things changed.

The New York Times

It was only when he stopped to reload that bystanders were able to tackle him.

The New York Times

It was only when the lights came on that you could see the smoke as well.

Independent

It was only when he was with his friends that he seemed perfectly natural and relaxed.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was only when" to clearly establish a cause-and-effect relationship where the second event is entirely dependent on the first.

Common error

Avoid using "it was only when" if the emphasis should be on the primary event rather than the condition that triggered it. In such cases, consider rephrasing to directly state the main event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was only when" functions as an adverbial clause introducer, setting up a conditional or temporal relationship between two events. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage, confirming its role in establishing sequence and dependency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

23%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was only when" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to emphasize the necessary condition for an event to occur. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and utility. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academia, it carries a neutral tone suitable for diverse contexts. When writing, ensure the emphasis is truly on the conditional aspect; otherwise, rephrasing might offer better clarity. Alternatives include phrases like "it was only after" or "only then", depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was only after

Similar meaning, emphasizing the sequence of events.

it's only when

Contraction with 'it is', making the sentence slightly more informal.

it was only then

Emphasizes the temporal sequence more directly.

it was just when

Subtle shift in emphasis, indicating immediacy.

it began only when

Focuses on the start of something contingent on a condition.

it was simply when

Adds simplicity to the condition.

it was only during

Highlights a period of time as the necessary condition.

only then can

Inverts the sentence structure for emphasis.

it was only where

Shifts the focus to a location as the determining factor.

it was not unless

Double negative construction implying a similar conditional.

FAQs

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

Use "it was only when" to indicate that a particular event or realization occurred after a specific condition was met. For example, "It was only when the lights came on that you could see the smoke as well".

What phrases are similar to "it was only when"?

Similar phrases include "it was only after", "only then", or "not until", each subtly altering the emphasis but maintaining the core meaning.

Is there a more formal way to say "it was only when"?

A more formal alternative might be "it was not until" or rephrasing the sentence to emphasize the sequence of events with clearer, more precise language.

Can "it was only when" be used at the beginning of a sentence?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "it was only when" can sometimes sound less fluid. Consider rephrasing for better readability, or using alternatives like "only when" to begin the sentence.