only in case of

USAGE SUMMARY

"Only in case of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that something should happen only if a certain condition is met. For example: "Only in case of an emergency should you pull the fire alarm."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Use only in case of emergency.

The New York Times

A time-out is called only in case of injury.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Foley was merely the "third quarterback," in uniform but available only in case of injury.

The New York Times - Sports

Maine is worth watching only in case of a very unlikely scenario.

The New Yorker

The CoMSIA reveals that only in case of series "D", the hydrophobic field effect is important.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Dissolved oxygen had significant effect on the transformation rate only in case of heterogeneous photocatalysis.

Catalysis Today

In general, this is true only in case of vanishing contact resistivity.

Measurement

It is only in case of tie where the two prosecutors are entitled to name a defendant.

Yale University

He had, he said, not used it and he had it with him only in case of emergencies.

The Guardian - Sport

Under some assumptions, this approach covers all the search space only in case of small dimensionality problems.

Applied Soft Computing

Heat transfer limitations, inside or outside catalyst particles, have also been investigated, but only in case of total wetting.

Chemical Engineering Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only in case of" to clearly define the specific condition under which an action or event should occur. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures that the action is not taken inappropriately.

Common error

Avoid using "only in case of" when a simpler "if" clause suffices. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound repetitive and less concise. For example, instead of "Only in case of rain, the event will be moved indoors", consider "If it rains, the event will be moved indoors."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only in case of" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a conditional clause. It specifies the unique circumstance under which a particular action or event is warranted. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is considered grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

26%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "only in case of" is a grammatically sound and widely used prepositional phrase that introduces a specific condition. According to Ludwig AI, this expression serves to clearly define the circumstances under which an action or event should occur. It's prevalent in scientific, news, and academic contexts. While versatile, it's essential to avoid redundancy by considering whether a simpler “if” clause would suffice. Ludwig's analysis reveals it is crucial to differentiate "only in case of" from "in case of", as the former limits the action to an exclusive condition, while the latter indicates a general precaution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

solely in the event of

This alternative uses more formal language, emphasizing the exclusive condition.

exclusively when

This alternative uses "when" to specify the condition under which something occurs, highlighting the temporal aspect.

just if

This is a more concise and informal way to express the condition.

simply if

This alternative is similar to "just if" but emphasizes the simplicity of the condition.

merely when

Similar to "exclusively when", this emphasizes the limited circumstances.

specifically if

This alternative underscores the precise condition that must be met.

uniquely in instances of

This is a more formal and emphatic way of stating the condition.

contingent upon

This alternative uses a different grammatical structure, focusing on dependency.

conditional on

This phrase similarly focuses on the dependency of an action on a specific condition.

subject to

Expresses a requirement that must be met for something to happen.

FAQs

How can I use "only in case of" in a sentence?

Use "only in case of" to specify the unique condition that triggers a particular action or event. For example, "Only in case of fire, break the glass" indicates that the glass should be broken exclusively when there is a fire.

What are some alternatives to "only in case of"?

Alternatives to "only in case of" include "solely in the event of", "exclusively when", or "just if". The best choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "only in case of"?

While grammatically correct, "only in case of" can sometimes be redundant. Consider whether a simple "if" clause might suffice. For instance, "If needed, contact me" is often more concise than "Only in case of need, contact me."

What's the difference between "only in case of" and "in case of"?

"In case of" indicates a general precaution or possibility, whereas "only in case of" specifies the exclusive condition that warrants a specific action. For example, "In case of emergency, call 911" advises a general action, while "Only in case of emergency, use this exit" limits the exit's use to emergencies alone.