only if required

USAGE SUMMARY

"only if required" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is used when something is necessary only in certain situations or if it is requested. For example: "You must provide additional documentation only if required."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The contract said "Star Sifter" could be removed only if "required or necessary".

The New York Times

That contract said that "Star Sifter" could be taken down only if "required or necessary".

The New York Times

Nationals who commit crimes in foreign countries may be extradited but only if required or authorized by treaty with the country concerned.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But Mr. Panetta made clear that he saw it as a stopgap measure and that private companies, which are typically reluctant to share internal information with the government, would cooperate fully only if required to by law.

The New York Times

In group 2, patients were mobilized rapidly and a sling was worn only if required during the first 10 days postoperatively.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

The facts that it is syntax-directed and type instantiation occurs only if required by a program context allow a sound and complete type inference algorithm to be obtained by transforming these relations into computable functions.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Finally, the ' dep' expression defines a task whose conditions are not evaluated immediately (as it happens in ' task' expressions) but only executed if required to satisfy a ' goal'.

Bioinformatics

These outcomes will be administered by a blinded assessor at the timeframes detailed in Table  3: *Only if required as part of treatment/normal care.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Un-blinding is only permissible if required for an urgent patient-safety issue There will be hierarchical coprimary end points.

BMJ Open

Inherited vs de novo proportions cannot be compared with the CGX-12 array because parents were only tested if required for CNV interpretation.

BMC Medical Genomics

Lilies generally don't need a lot of water, so only water if required.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "only if required", ensure the condition is clearly defined and understood to prevent ambiguity. For example, "Submit the form only if required by your supervisor."

Common error

Avoid using "only if required" excessively in contexts where the condition is already implied or obvious. Overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only if required" functions as an adverbial modifier, limiting the condition under which an action should be taken. It emphasizes that the action is conditional and should not occur unless specifically needed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "only if required" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that imposes a specific condition on an action. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's appropriate for various contexts, from scientific papers to news articles. To enhance your writing, use it to make your message more precise and efficient, while avoiding redundancy. You can also use similar alternatives such as "solely if necessary", or "just if needed". When in doubt, use Ludwig to check your sentence for clarity and appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

solely if necessary

Emphasizes the exclusivity of the condition for something to be done.

just if needed

Implies a condition based on need, simplifying the original phrase.

merely if dictated

Focuses on being instructed as the sole condition.

exclusively when essential

Highlights the essential nature of the condition for something to happen.

contingent upon necessity

Uses a more formal tone, emphasizing dependence on a need.

conditional on demand

Highlights the conditionality based on a specific request.

as a last resort

Suggests action is taken as a final option when other options are exhausted.

when absolutely necessary

Emphasizes the absolute necessity as a condition.

if and only if indispensable

Stresses the mutual dependence, something is indispensable and the condition is exclusive.

subject to demand

Highlights the conditionality based on a explicit requirement.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "only if required" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "solely if necessary", "exclusively when essential", or "contingent upon necessity". Each alternative adds a layer of formality depending on the specific context. /s/solely+if+necessary, /s/exclusively+when+essential or /s/contingent+upon+necessity.

What's the difference between "only if required" and "if required"?

"Only if required" emphasizes that the action should only be taken when the condition is met, implying it's unnecessary otherwise. "If required" simply states the condition without the emphasis on exclusivity. The nuance lies in the degree of necessity and restriction.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "only if required"?

While grammatically permissible, starting a sentence with "only if required" can sometimes sound awkward. It's often better to restructure the sentence for clarity and flow. For instance, instead of "Only if required, submit the form", try "Submit the form "only if necessary"".

What are some situations where I should use "only if required"?

Use "only if required" when you want to specify that an action or resource is conditional and should not be applied unless a specific need arises. Examples include technical documentation, legal clauses, and procedural instructions where precision is crucial. Consider using it in similar alternatives such as "just if needed".