only for reference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only for reference" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used when you are referring to something that is not the main focus of a sentence or a conversation. For example, you might say "I found the documents you were looking for, but I'm keeping them only for reference."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

ISA bus standard is used only for reference.

Microprocessors and Microsystems

Exercising knowledge, taste, and critical judgment, the book collector forms a special kind of library, intended not only for reference, current reading, or entertainment but also for comprehensiveness and quality within the areas it covers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Therefore, we used the N-test results only for reference in this study.

Earth, Planets and Space

With that being said, the distribution of happiness of individual tweets are shown only for reference, while the (aggregated) happiness scores for areas are the ones being used in the study.

EPJ Data Science

The list acknowledges some "vernacular" names, but specifies that they "are included ONLY for reference". The emphasis is theirs.

HuffPost

Allele tcfA1 has been described only for reference strain 18323.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Should we put a disclaimer on decks that says, "For Visual Support Only," or "For Reference Only," or "For Reading at Your Leisure, Not for Presentation, Ever, Unless You Want to Bore Everyone to Tears"?

Harvard Business Review

Fantastic -- but know that's only really for reference.

WikiHow

The environmental factor was a barely influential factor because the parameter showed 20% significance, which is only used for reference.

Agricultural and Food Economics

The data points at 10 K could be subject to large uncertainties and are only drawn for reference.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Because qRT-PCR was only designed for reference sequence of each miRNA, we used qRT-PCR to confirm whether miR-21 reference sequence was down-regulated in mouse uterus at activation.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, ensure it's evident why the information is being provided but not considered essential.

Common error

Avoid presenting critical information as "only for reference", as this can devalue its importance and mislead the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only for reference" serves as an adverbial modifier, indicating the limited purpose or use of the information it describes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it clarifies that something is not the main focus but serves a supporting role. The examples show its function in academic papers, news articles, and wiki guides.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

Wiki

20%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "only for reference" is a versatile tool for clarifying the importance of information within various contexts. As Ludwig AI points out, it serves to indicate that specific data or details are supplementary and not the primary basis for decisions. Common across scientific, news, and wiki sources, its neutral-to-formal tone makes it suitable for professional and academic settings. When using this phrase, ensure that its purpose is to guide rather than to mislead. As it has been discovered, some related alternatives are "for informational purposes only" and "for guidance only".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for informational purposes only

Highlights the informational aspect, omitting any implication of guidance.

for context only

Highlights information for understanding the situation around a topic.

for guidance only

Emphasizes direction without guaranteeing accuracy.

primarily for information

Suggests the main purpose is to inform, but there might be other uses.

for illustration only

Focuses on visual representation rather than general information.

for example only

Specifies that the item is one of many possibilities.

as a point of comparison

Focuses on using something as a standard to measure against.

purely for background

Emphasizes that something is intended to provide context.

as a rough estimate

Indicates an approximate calculation rather than a precise figure.

just for the record

Highlights something to be formally noted.

FAQs

How can I appropriately use "only for reference" in a sentence?

Use "only for reference" to signal that the information provided is supplementary and not intended as the primary basis for action or decision-making. For instance, "The initial data is provided "only for reference"; the final analysis will follow later."

What are some alternative phrases to "only for reference"?

Alternatives include "for informational purposes only", "for guidance only", or "for context only", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "only for reference" in formal writing?

Yes, "only for reference" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in technical or academic contexts where supplemental information is provided without being central to the main argument or analysis.

What is the difference between "only for reference" and "required reading"?

"Only for reference" indicates optional or supplemental material, while "required reading" signifies essential material that must be reviewed and understood. The former provides additional context, whereas the latter is integral to the subject matter.