only on saturdays

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'only on Saturdays' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that only happens during the weekend. For example: Our library is open only on Saturdays and Sundays.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

While most National Trust coastline is open to the public, the public can visit the spit only on Saturdays from April to June, and Tuesday to Saturday from July to September – because of ground-nesting birds, as well as hazardous waste and unexploded bombs.

The Guardian - Travel

The one-hour ride between the World Financial Center and Sandy Hook will be offered only on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer, with two trips departing from Manhattan in the morning and two returning in the late afternoon.

The New York Times

"Only on Saturdays".

The New York Times

It is open only on Saturdays.

The New York Times - Arts

Columbia students have guests privileges only on Saturdays and Sundays.

Columbia University

The Book Thing operates only on Saturdays and Sundays.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

For example, 32percentt of respondents feel stressed out on Mondays, but only 8percentt on Saturdays.

University of California, Berkeley

If you want beef ribs, they're only offered on Saturdays — but our personal favorite time to go is on Tex-Mex Tuesdays, when Lewis turns his spot into a Tex-Mex joint, serving brisket enchiladas ($5), posole, and more.

Huffington Post

At present you can fly to Jersey, but on Saturdays only.

Independent

It is only open on Saturdays, for just four hours (9am-1pm, guided tours obligatory but visitors are free to look around afterwards).

The Guardian - Travel

It's a life spent in struggle with the land, one bad crop away from hardship, only clean on Saturdays, forever sweeping death from her doorstep.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying availability, clearly state what is available "only on Saturdays" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice when describing events that happen "only on Saturdays". Instead of "The event is held only on Saturdays", opt for the active voice: "We hold the event only on Saturdays".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only on Saturdays" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action or event occurs. Ludwig shows several examples where it restricts the time frame to Saturdays.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

18%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "only on Saturdays" is a grammatically correct and very common adverbial phrase used to specify that something occurs exclusively on Saturdays. It appears most frequently in news and media, as Ludwig confirms. The phrase functions to set temporal boundaries, providing clarity about when an activity or service is available. While it maintains a neutral tone suitable for various contexts, writers should be mindful of using active voice and clearly stating what is "only on Saturdays" to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Saturdays only

Omits the preposition 'on', creating a shorter, more direct phrase.

Exclusively on Saturdays

Adds emphasis to the exclusivity of the occurrence.

Just on Saturdays

Similar to 'only on Saturdays', but with a slightly more casual tone.

On Saturdays alone

Rearranges the words to emphasize the singularity of Saturday.

Limited to Saturdays

Highlights the restriction of the event to that specific day.

Saturdays are the only day

Changes the structure to a more descriptive sentence.

Available only on Saturdays

Specifies availability, often used for services or products.

Occurs solely on Saturdays

Uses more formal vocabulary to express the same idea.

Restricted to Saturdays

Similar to 'limited to', emphasizing a constraint.

Saturdays are the sole occasion

Employs more elaborate language to indicate the uniqueness of Saturdays.

FAQs

How can I use "only on Saturdays" in a sentence?

You can use "only on Saturdays" to indicate that something occurs exclusively on that day. For example, "The farmer's market is open "only on Saturdays"".

What's a more formal way to say "only on Saturdays"?

A more formal alternative could be "exclusively on Saturdays" or "solely on Saturdays". For instance, "The exhibition is available "exclusively on Saturdays"".

Is it grammatically correct to say "just on Saturdays" instead of "only on Saturdays"?

Yes, "just on Saturdays" is grammatically correct and conveys a similar meaning to "only on Saturdays", although it carries a slightly more informal tone. For example, "We offer that special discount "just on Saturdays"".

What's the difference between "available on Saturdays" and "only on Saturdays"?

"Available on Saturdays" means that something is accessible on Saturdays, but possibly also on other days. "Only on Saturdays" means it's accessible exclusively on that day. So, "The guided tours are "available on Saturdays"" indicates they might be available other days too, while "The guided tours are "only on Saturdays"" specifies that Saturday is the only day they occur.