only as quickly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only as quickly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is done at a specific speed, often in comparison to another speed or condition. Example: "She can only run as quickly as her training allows her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

With the S.& P. already expensive, price-to-earnings ratios will probably not expand further, so stocks will rise only as quickly as profits, Mr. Wieting said.

The New York Times

The resolution provides that power will be given to Iraqis only as quickly as Washington judges them ready to receive it.

The New York Times

At the end of the finale he treated the tempo so freely that he seemed to be improvising, proceeding only as quickly as ideas occurred to him and threatening to break off altogether, to delightful effect.

The New York Times - Arts

They insisted that Japan would move toward a market-based economy and pull away from the convoy system in which all the banks support one another and move ahead only as quickly as the slowest bank.

The New York Times

Oil production can expand only as quickly as infrastructure can keep up.

Forbes

AI will impact jobs only as quickly as AI-powered business software evolves.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Do you ever have that odd experience of finding yourself instinctively in agreement, nodding or silently voicing approval — it must have to do with the beauty of the formulation — only to just as quickly discover that you disagree?

The New Yorker

But they fall to the ground just as quickly, only lasting about two weeks.

BBC

Quickly, the skeleton, head and all, is whisked away, only to return just as quickly flash-fried as a crunchy, delicious snack.

The New York Times - Food

Imagine the writer as a meme machine, writing works with the intention for them to ripple rapidly across networks only to evaporate just as quickly as they appeared.

The New Yorker

Whether circuses, military encampments or the seasonal courts of Mongol emperors, impressive and sometimes very beautiful architecture has blossomed with the suddenness of summer poppies only to vanish just as quickly.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only as quickly" to clearly indicate a rate of progress is directly tied to another factor. For example, "Progress can "only as quickly" as resources are allocated."

Common error

Avoid using "only as quickly" when the rate isn't genuinely limited by a specific factor. Saying "The project advanced "only as quickly" as the team worked" implies an external limitation rather than simply describing their pace. Make sure an explicit condition is setting the speed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only as quickly" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the degree or extent to which an action or process occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical status. It typically modifies a verb or clause, indicating that something happens at a rate determined by a limiting factor.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "only as quickly" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate that the pace of an event is restricted or dictated by another factor. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. Its usage is more common in news, science, and business contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional tone. When using this phrase, be certain to correctly identify and clearly express the limiting factor. While alternative phrasing options exist such as "no faster than" or "at the same rate as", the phrase maintains its specific nuance of restriction. Overall, use "only as quickly" when it is essential to highlight a direct dependency between two rates of progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no faster than

Emphasizes the speed is limited by something else.

at the same rate as

Highlights the equivalence in speed or progression.

dependent on the pace of

Focuses on the dependency of the speed on another factor's rate.

contingent on the speed of

Similar to 'dependent on', but suggests a stronger condition.

limited by the velocity of

Directly mentions speed limitation due to an external factor.

governed by the tempo of

Implies a regulation or control of speed by another process.

no more rapidly than

A more formal way to express a speed limit.

at a rate dictated by

Indicates that the rate is determined by an external influence.

paced by

A concise way of saying the speed is set by something else.

restricted to the speed of

Highlights that the speed is capped by another factor.

FAQs

How can I use "only as quickly" in a sentence?

Use "only as quickly" to show that the pace of something is directly dependent on another factor. For example, "Growth can occur "only as quickly" as new resources become available."

What phrases are similar to "only as quickly"?

Alternatives include phrases like "no faster than", "at the same rate as", or "dependent on the pace of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "only as quickly"?

Yes, the phrase "only as quickly" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a rate or pace that is limited by another factor, as verified by Ludwig AI.

What's the difference between "only as quickly" and "just as quickly"?

"Only as quickly" implies a limitation or dependency on another factor, while "just as quickly" indicates that something happens at the same speed as something else without necessarily implying a restriction.