only since

USAGE SUMMARY

"only since" is a perfectly valid phrase that can be used in written English.
It often has the meaning of "starting from the time when" or "since the time of". For example: "I have been living in this city only since last month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

They've caught up only since 1960.

The New York Times

Only since mid-January has it got better.

The Guardian - Travel

Jewelry, is also at 72 Bowery, but only since April.

The New York Times

It's only since I've been in the movie business.

The New York Times

Whitfield had been in business only since 2006.

The New York Times - Sports

The couple had been together only since May this year.

Independent

The industrialization of Chiba has occurred only since the war.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Mandela had been out of Robben Island only since February 1990 and had been president only since May 1994.

The New York Times - Sports

Available voting records show votes only since 1992.

The New York Times

The archive offers back issues only since February 2006.

Columbia University

Ebola has been known to science only since 1976.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only since" to clearly define the starting point of an event or situation. This helps avoid ambiguity about the timeframe being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "only since" with present perfect continuous tense when a simple past tense would suffice to denote a completed action within the specified period. For instance, instead of "I have only been knowing him since last year", use "I have only known him since last year".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only since" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the temporal limit from which a particular action, state, or event has been true. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in defining when something began.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "only since" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to specify the commencement of an action or state. According to Ludwig, this phrase effectively emphasizes the starting point and limitation of an event within a defined period. Found frequently in news, encyclopedias, and scientific content, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for varied contexts. To ensure clarity, use it with proper tense agreement and be mindful of alternative expressions for enhanced writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merely since

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

simply since

Substitutes "only" with "simply", suggesting a straightforward temporal connection.

just since

Replaces "only" with "just", indicating a recent or short duration.

solely since

Replaces "only" with "solely", emphasizing exclusivity in the timeframe.

exclusively since

Uses "exclusively" instead of "only" to highlight that something has occurred solely within that time period.

not until

Changes the structure to express the same idea using a negative constraint.

ever since

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the action from the specified time.

from the time that

Offers a more descriptive and formal way to express the beginning of the period.

following

Implies a sequence, suggesting the event started after the given time.

subsequent to

Presents a formal alternative, indicating that something happened after a certain point.

FAQs

How do I use "only since" in a sentence?

Use "only since" to indicate the starting point of an action or state. For example, "The company has been profitable "only since" the new management took over".

What phrases can I use instead of "only since"?

You can use phrases like "merely since", "simply since", or "just since" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "I only know him since last year"?

It's more grammatically correct to say "I have "only known" him since last year" or "I've "only known" him since last year". Using the present perfect tense clarifies that you are still acquainted.

What is the difference between "only since" and "since"?

"Since" indicates the time from which something has been happening, while ""only since"" emphasizes that it hasn't been happening for longer than that period. "Since" is less restrictive.