only either

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'only either' is not correct.
The phrase 'only either' does not exist in English and does not make sense. If you want to express a choice between two possibilities, you could use either 'only one' or 'either one': You can only have either one of the two desserts.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Please choose one option only: either apply online or send an application through the mail.

Harvard University

If a project has several beta applications, a user can only either run all or none.

University of California, Berkeley

Moreover, combining both spanwise and chordwise flexibility outperforms cases with only either spanwise or chordwise flexibility.

Journal of Fluids and Structures

Only either full-scale studies or those done under conditions simulating the atmospheric boundary layer have been considered.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Mr. Kissinger flatly rejected that idea, explaining such a rushed visit "could reflect only either hysteria or blackmail".

The New York Times

Not only either of them but also flow rate may be chosen as an input and outputs by easy rearrangement of the formulas.

Applied Acoustics

An increase in the oxygen reduction current was observed for the carbonaceous thin film compared to those containing only either metal, suggesting the synergetic effect of their coexistence.

Carbon

Stardust Dreams "Dance Evenings Elegante" may be attended by appointment only, either on a regular, weekly or monthly basis or when space is available.

The New York Times

And yet he wasn't tyrannical, was only either pleasant or absent; if he was abstracted, you felt the curse of your failure to interest him.

The New Yorker

If the transmitting antenna is not horizontally polarized only, either the vertical component or the horizontal component of the ERP should be used, whichever is greater in the pertinent azimuthal direction.

Cornell University

When tested with four or two landmarks (either relatively near or far from the platform), the students' performance was equivalent and significantly better than that obtained with one landmark only (either relatively near or far from the platform).

Learning and Motivation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that when expressing a single choice, the wording clearly reflects the intention of selecting only one option. Use phrases like "just one" or "only one".

Common error

Avoid using "only either" as it is grammatically incorrect. This construction can lead to confusion, as it doesn't clearly express the intended exclusive choice. Instead, restructure the sentence using "either...or" or similar constructions for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only either" attempts to function as a conjunction to present two exclusive choices. However, this construction is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, it's more appropriate to use the structure "either...or" to convey this meaning effectively.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

32%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "only either" appears frequently across diverse sources, ranging from scientific journals to news media, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this, suggesting that the correct idiomatic structure for presenting two exclusive options is "either...or". Therefore, when aiming for grammatical accuracy and clarity, especially in formal or professional writing, it's best to avoid "only either" and opt for grammatically sound alternatives. Despite its common occurrence, relying on it may detract from the overall quality and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

either...or

This is the correct idiomatic structure to present two exclusive options.

one or the other

Emphasizes that exactly one of two options must be chosen.

only one

Highlights the singleness of the permitted choice.

just one of

Focuses on selecting a single option from a set.

exclusively one of

Emphasizes that only one choice is available.

solely one of

Underscores that the selection is limited to a single option.

one single

Reinforces the idea of selecting a single item.

just either

Similar but more concise, focusing on the selection of one.

precisely one

Highlights that the choice must be exactly one.

exactly one of

Similar to "one or the other" emphasizing the singleness of the choice.

FAQs

How can I correctly express a choice between two options?

Use the structure "either...or" to present two exclusive choices. For instance, "You can "either stay" or leave" is grammatically sound.

What phrases can I use instead of "only either" to indicate a single option?

Consider using "just one", "only one", or "exclusively one" to clearly express that only one choice is permitted.

Is "only either" grammatically correct?

No, "only either" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It doesn't follow standard English grammar rules for expressing exclusive choices. Use "either...or" instead.

What's the difference between "only either" and "either...or"?

"Only either" is a non-standard and incorrect construction. "Either...or" is the correct idiomatic way to present two exclusive options, indicating that one, and only one, of the options can be chosen.