only just for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only just for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is limited in time or scope, often implying that it is not for a long duration or is only temporary. Example: "I’m here only just for the weekend, so let’s make the most of it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The north-Iranian bowl sold, only just, for £18,750, or about $30,000, but the Egyptian fragments did not.

The New York Times - Arts

Monet's admirable "Chemin de halage à Granval," painted in 1885, sold only just for £2.5 million, missing the low estimate.

The New York Times - Arts

At university every day began the same way: with the promise to myself that for this day only, just for this day, I would not do it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Two bronze mortars, one from 13th-century Jazira, now split between northwestern Iraq and southeastern Turkey, the other from 12th-century eastern Iran, sold, only just, for £1,125, about $1,700.

The New York Times - Arts

A Fernand Léger "Still Life," dated 1924, sold, only just, for £1.32 million and a double portrait painted by Max Beckmann in New York in 1949, a year before he died, dropped unsold.

The New York Times - Arts

Immediately after Bonnard's view influenced by Post-Impressionism rose to its record £7.2 million, a landscape signed by Camille Pissarro in 1893, failed to match the low estimate and sold, only just, for £1.1 million.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Though he played Henrik, but just for only 22 seconds, furthermore he left the bench after his one shift.

Wikipedia

Murdoch's "most humble day of my life" was just that – only for one day.

The Guardian - Opinion

I'll have the headphones blaring like some carefree teenager, if only for just those few minutes anyway.

The New York Times

The case was initiated pursuant to the grievance process in the collective bargaining agreement that required the company to terminate only for just cause.

Cornell University

Just once, if only for a moment, I wanted to be in his arms again.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only just for" to clearly communicate that something is limited in scope, duration, or purpose. It adds emphasis to the restricted nature of the action or situation.

Common error

While "only just for" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make the tone sound less professional. Opt for alternatives like "solely for" or "specifically for" to maintain formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only just for" functions as an adverbial modifier, limiting the scope or reason for an action or state. Ludwig's examples show it adds emphasis to the restricted nature of the action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "only just for" functions as an adverbial phrase to emphasize the limited nature or reason behind something, as demonstrated by Ludwig. With a neutral register, it fits into various contexts, though may benefit from formal alternatives like "solely for" to maintain the writing's formality when more appropriate. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merely for

Replaces "only just" with "merely", emphasizing the limited nature of the purpose.

simply for

Substitutes "only just" with "simply", suggesting ease or lack of complication in the reason.

purely for

Uses "purely" instead of "only just", highlighting a single, unmixed motive.

solely for

Replaces "only just" with "solely", stressing exclusivity of the reason or purpose.

just for a moment

Specifies that something is occurring for a very short duration.

only for a little while

Indicates a short period of time.

exclusively for

Emphasizes that something is intended for one particular purpose or recipient.

specifically for

Highlights that something is designed or intended for a particular reason or use.

partly for

Indicates that something is done partially for a reason.

partially for

Similar to "partly for", this expresses a reason that's contributing but not the entire cause.

FAQs

How can I use "only just for" in a sentence?

Use "only just for" to indicate a limited reason or duration, like in the sentence: "I'm visiting "only just for" the weekend".

What's a more formal alternative to "only just for"?

For formal contexts, consider using phrases like "solely for", "purely for", or "exclusively for", depending on the precise meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "just only for" instead of "only just for"?

While the meaning might be understood, "only just for" is the more common and grammatically accepted form. "Just only for" is less conventional and may sound awkward to native English speakers.

What is the difference between "only just for" and "just for"?

"Only just for" emphasizes the limited nature or scope more strongly than "just for". "Just for" implies a reason, while "only just for" highlights that this is the sole or primary reason, especially within a limited scope or time.