missing and only

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "missing and only" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a specific condition or situation, but without additional context, it is ambiguous and unclear. Example: "The report is missing and only contains half the data we need."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Above, the PTSS-10 has some limitations since it is based on DSM-III criteria, items on numbing or flashbacks are missing and only one item assesses avoidance.

Annals of Intensive Care

By contrast, in nonlucid dreams, this type of explicit framing is missing and only the perspective of the dream's protagonist is retained.

SEP

Inspired by the work in [35], the model of the missing measurement in this paper is expressed as follows: y ˆ k = { ( C + Δ C ) x k + ( D + Δ D ) ω k, the measurement is perfect, ( D + Δ D ) ω k, the measurement is missing and only the noise is left, (5).

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

The bullshit experience of going through an airport, being delayed without explanation or further details, then being carted onto a cramped tube full of people and recycled air, only to land and have your luggage missing and only airplane-stank clothes on your back.

TechCrunch

The freshman season of Nashville was missing, and only a handful of episodes from the current season are available: episodes 201, 202, 203, 209 and 210.

Huffington Post

In the northern portion of the country, a mudslide buried three small mountain villages, leaving 270 missing and only 29 survivors.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Numerous opportunities to intervene were missed and only two girls received child protection planning, the report said.

BBC

The predictive performance of the simple diagnostic aid was good, as no definite case of pneumonia was missed and only two potential cases of pneumonia appeared.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Therefore, it is possible that initial treatment responses had been missed and only progression was recorded properly in the medical file.

Annals of Surgical Oncology

No participant with a diagnostic diabetes laboratory HbA1c measurement was missed, and only 7 (2.9%) participants would have had a high risk of developing diabetes (HbA1c ≥6.0%) missed if POC HbA1c was the only test undertaken.

BMJ Open

Her father is missing and her only prior experience of affection has been a messy entanglement with her violent cousin.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "missing and only", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is absent and what remains or is uniquely present. Rework sentences for clarity, perhaps by specifying the missing element first.

Common error

Avoid using "missing and only" when a more direct and descriptive phrase would enhance clarity. For example, instead of 'the file was missing and only contained the introduction', try 'only the introduction was present in the file; the rest was missing'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "missing and only" functions as a conjunction to connect the state of something being absent with a limited or exclusive condition. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's often considered grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity. Rephrasing is typically recommended.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "missing and only" aims to connect the absence of something with the exclusive presence of another. However, Ludwig indicates it's often grammatically questionable. Despite appearing across various sources, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki, its inconsistent usage and potential for ambiguity suggest the need for careful contextualization and, often, rephrasing. Alternatives like "absent but solely" or "lacking and exclusively" may offer improved clarity. It's crucial to ensure that the intended meaning is clear and unambiguous, considering the phrase's varied frequency and potential for misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absent but solely

Replaces "missing" with "absent" maintaining the sense of something lacking, while "solely" substitutes "only" emphasizing exclusivity.

absent with solely

Similar to "absent but solely" this highlights absence and exclusivity.

lacking and exclusively

"Lacking" emphasizes deficiency, and "exclusively" stresses that nothing else is involved.

wanting and exclusively

"Wanting" indicates a lack and "exclusively" implies singularity.

deficient and singularly

"Deficient" highlights the inadequacy, while "singularly" emphasizes uniqueness or being the only one.

incomplete and uniquely

"Incomplete" suggests a part is absent, and "uniquely" emphasizes that only one element exists.

gone and uniquely

"Gone" indicates that something is no longer present, with "uniquely" showing that only one aspect remains.

vanished and merely

"Vanished" suggests complete disappearance, while "merely" indicates that something exists to a small degree.

lost and purely

"Lost" indicates the item cannot be found, and "purely" stresses the limited presence of anything else.

without and just

"Without" points out the absence, while "just" emphasizes the minimal presence of anything else.

FAQs

How can I improve the clarity of sentences using "missing and only"?

Reframe the sentence to clearly state what is absent and what specifically remains. For example, instead of "details were missing and only a summary was available", clarify with "only a summary was available, with critical details missing".

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "missing and only" in writing?

Consider alternatives like "absent but solely", "lacking and exclusively", or "incomplete and uniquely" to convey the intended meaning with greater precision, depending on the context.

Is "missing and only" grammatically correct in all contexts?

The phrase "missing and only" is not considered grammatically sound in standard English. It often leads to ambiguity. Rephrasing is recommended for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

How does the context influence the interpretation of "missing and only"?

Context plays a crucial role in interpreting the phrase. Without clear context, the reader may struggle to understand what is absent and what specific element is singularly present. Therefore, explicit wording is crucial for effective communication.