nominated only for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nominated only for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when specifying that someone or something has received a nomination for a particular award or recognition, but not for any others. Example: "She was nominated only for Best Actress at the awards this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

In its 2015 Oscar nominations, revealed this morning, the Academy showed much love for "Grand Budapest" and "Birdman," which led with nine nominations each; less for "Selma," which was nominated only for Best Original Song and Best Picture; and none for Jennifer Aniston, who received no nod for her dramatic turn in "Cake".

The New Yorker

In 1994, Blur's Parklife was nominated, only for Elegant Slumming by M People to win.

Independent

And Jack O'Brien's crackerjack revival of "The Front Page" was nominated only for Nathan Lane's featured performance.

The New Yorker

The box-office smash of the year, Joss Whedon's characteristically witty superhero film "The Avengers", was nominated only for visual effects.

The Economist

Mischief Theatre's crowd-pleasing farce "The Play That Goes Wrong" was nominated only for its ingeniously destructible set, by Nigel Hook.

The New Yorker

The big losers on the list are, unfortunately, Joel and Ethan Coen, whose "Inside Llewyn Davis" was nominated only for Cinematography and Sound Mixing.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Eddie Murphy has been nominated only once, for Best Supporting Actor, in "Dreamgirls," from 2006.

The New Yorker

Despite numerous awards Mr. Khondji has never won an Oscar and has been nominated only once — for Alan Parker's 1996 musical "Evita".

The New York Times

"The Wire" has never won an Emmy — in fact, it has been nominated only once, for Pelecanos's script about the murder of Stringer Bell, the drug boss who imagined himself as a legitimate businessman.

The New Yorker

(Although de Mille was nominated only once more, for "Goldilocks," in 1959; Kidd and Champion went on to win four more Tonys apiece, and Robbins won three).

The New Yorker

George Clooney on Tuesday joined Michael Moore, Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett Smith and other film industry figures who lamented that the Academy nominated only white actors for the second consecutive year, and ignored other black talent behind the cameras.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nominated only for", ensure the context clearly indicates that no other nominations were received. This avoids ambiguity and emphasizes the limited scope of recognition.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "nominated only for" implies a lack of overall merit. It simply specifies the category where recognition was received, not the quality of the work itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nominated only for" functions as a qualifier, specifying the limited extent of nominations received. It narrows the scope of recognition and implies that no other nominations were awarded. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples demonstrating its restrictive function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nominated only for" is a useful qualifier that specifies the precise scope of recognition something has received. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and used to restrict the nomination to a particular category. While it might sometimes carry a negative connotation implying a lack of widespread recognition, it also serves to highlight specific strengths. Context is key to interpreting its meaning. Alternatives include "nominated solely for" and "recognized exclusively for", though each carries subtle differences in emphasis. When using this phrase, it's crucial to clearly convey that no other nominations were received to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nominated solely for

Emphasizes that the nomination was exclusively for a particular category.

recognized exclusively for

Highlights that the recognition was limited to a specific area.

shortlisted merely for

Suggests a minimal or insufficient level of recognition.

considered just for

Indicates a limited scope of consideration regarding nominations.

nominated in name only for

Implies that the nomination was not seriously considered or lacks substance.

selected singularly for

Emphasizes the unique and limited nature of the selection.

chosen uniquely for

Highlights the distinct and restricted aspect of the choice.

cited specifically for

Focuses on the precise area for which the citation was given.

acknowledged purely for

Emphasizes the singular aspect of the acknowledgement.

distinguished singularly for

Highlights the unique element leading to the distinction.

FAQs

How do I use "nominated only for" in a sentence?

Use "nominated only for" to indicate that a person, work, or entity has been nominated for a specific category, and no others. For example: "The film was "nominated only for" Best Cinematography."

What can I say instead of "nominated only for"?

You can use alternatives like "nominated solely for", "recognized exclusively for", or "considered just for" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean when something is "nominated only for" a specific award?

It signifies that the nominee received a nomination for that particular award or category, but was not nominated in any other categories. It doesn't necessarily reflect the quality of the work but specifies the limited scope of recognition.

Is it always negative when something is "nominated only for" one category?

Not necessarily. While it might suggest that the subject was not widely recognized, it can also highlight excellence in a specific area. The context determines whether it carries a positive, neutral, or negative connotation.