only there is

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only there is" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not typically used in standard English and may confuse readers due to its awkward structure. Example: "Only there is a solution to this problem." (This sentence is unclear and should be rephrased.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

I wanted to give him every possible chance to drop the weapon, only there is only so far I can go".

The Guardian

3.28pm GMT From the Migration Advisory Committee advisory report, I can finally bring you a summary table of the impacts of new migrants: (Remember when reading this the Committee clearly state they are not saying one causes the other, only there is an association - see my earlier post on this).

The Guardian

The conversation floats in space like part of a film trailer, only there is no film.

The Guardian - Books

While it seems unlikely Team USA will ever revert to using "amateur" players only, there is a very good chance we won't see this level of pro talent come 2019.

The Guardian - Sport

4. Sheila and Her Dog society – University of Cambridge You may well not begin university life thinking "if only there is a society out there where I can don a dressing gown before joining fellow gowned beings of an evening while we read children's books in silly voices, drink hot chocolate and tuck into some biscuits".

The Guardian

The gag about an older, unattractive guy finding them sexy is in Fanfaren Der Liebe, too, only there is no Osgood Fielding III figure; rather, the smitten male is the band's manager, Herr Hallinger Oskar Simm), for whom the SLIH equivalent is Beinstock, Sweet Sue's harassed and only faintly lecherous sidekick.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Only there was.

The Guardian - Sport

IF ONLY there was an easy recipe for funniness.

The Economist

If only there were somewhere else to go.It need not have been so bad.

The Economist

The new material he provides is generally fascinating if only there were more of it.

The Economist

If only there were.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "only there is" in formal writing. Instead, use the more common and grammatically correct phrase "there is only" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

Common error

Avoid starting a sentence with "only there is" when you intend to emphasize a condition or limitation. This structure is uncommon and can make your writing sound awkward. Rather, emphasize the subject directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only there is" functions incorrectly as an introductory phrase. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase does not follow standard grammar rules. Although examples exist, they may be due to errors or non-standard usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

28%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "only there is" appears in some written content, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. Standard English typically uses "there is only" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical structure. Although there are a few examples from news sources and formal documents, it is advisable to avoid this construction in formal writing. Alternatives like "there is only" or restructuring the sentence are recommended to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there is only

Reverses the order of "only" and "there is", creating a more standard and grammatically sound phrase.

there's only

A contraction of "there is only", making it slightly more informal but grammatically correct.

if only there was

Expresses a wish or regret about the existence of something.

only then is there

Emphasizes a condition that must be met before something can exist or happen.

solely there is

Replaces "only" with "solely" to emphasize uniqueness or exclusivity.

uniquely there is

Highlights the unique existence of something.

exclusively there is

Indicates that something exists for a specific purpose or group only.

merely there is

Implies that something exists in a minimal or limited way.

simply there is

Suggests the existence of something in a straightforward or uncomplicated manner.

just there is

Emphasizes the bare existence of something.

FAQs

What does "only there is" mean?

The phrase "only there is" is not standard English and is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's often better to use "there is only" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

What can I say instead of "only there is"?

You can use alternatives like "there is only", "there's only", or rephrase the sentence to use a clearer structure depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "only there is"?

No, it is generally not considered correct to say "only there is". The standard English phrasing is "there is only".

How can I rephrase a sentence using "only there is" to be more grammatically correct?

Instead of saying "only there is", try "there is only" or reconstruct the sentence. For example, instead of "Only there is one way to solve this", say "There is only one way to solve this".