ought not only

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ought not only" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing obligations or expectations that extend beyond a single aspect or action. Example: "We ought not only to consider the immediate benefits but also the long-term consequences of our decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Your eyes ought not only to be dry, but glad.

The New Yorker

But she stressed to the MPs that the target was "cross-Government" and ought not only be achieved by her department alone.

Independent

These ought to be entwined in our lives since we ought not only think in a fair and just manner but also act accordingly.

The New York Times

But even here the holder of the theory ought not only to assert the fact: he ought to explain the cause of it: i.e. he should not make any mere assumption or lay down any gratuitous axiom, but should employ either inductive or demonstrative reasoning.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

According to this principle, the Copyright Act ought not only to be interpreted with an eye to the internal coherence of its own scheme; it must also not be interpreted in a fashion which is inconsistent with theTrade-marks Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.

Harvard University

decide forever the fate of Republican Govt we ought not only to provide every guard to liberty that its preservation cd.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"It calls for people of faith to question the deity of god, which is something essential and fundamental in the Muslim tradition, where people ought to not only believe in god but question our intellectual faculties to come to that conclusion".

The New York Times

"We ought to not only be reactive, but to look for ways to keep a problem from happening," he says.

Los Angeles Times

Roosevelt believed what our founders believed: Government ought to be not only a shield from tyranny but also an instrument of freedom.

The Washington Post

Some feminists argue that, given that values do play a role in scientific inquiry, socially progressive values ought to shape not only decisions about what to investigate but also the processes of justification.

SEP

Tertullian is the first to mention Sunday rest: "We, however (just as tradition has taught us), on the day of the Lord's Resurrection ought to guard not only against kneeling, but every posture and office of solicitude, deferring even our businesses lest we give any place to the devil" ("De orat"., xxiii; cf. "Ad nation"., I, xiii; "Apolog"., xvi).

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ought not only" to indicate that a consideration or action should encompass more than one aspect, ensuring a comprehensive approach. For instance, "We "ought not only" consider the financial implications, but also the ethical considerations."

Common error

Avoid using "ought not only" when a simple affirmative statement is more direct and clear. Overusing negation can create confusing or weak phrasing. Instead of saying "We "ought not only" focus on profits", consider "We should prioritize both profits and sustainability".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ought not only" functions as a modal construction, expressing a sense of obligation or advisability that extends beyond a singular focus. Ludwig AI indicates its proper usage in scenarios requiring comprehensive consideration.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ought not only" is a modal construction used to express that an obligation or consideration should extend beyond a single aspect. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, particularly those requiring comprehensive thinking. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears across news, academic, and scientific domains, suggesting a versatile register. Using "ought not only" effectively requires avoiding over-negation and ensuring clarity in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should not only

Replaces "ought" with "should", altering the strength of the obligation slightly.

must not only

Substitutes "ought" with "must", intensifying the sense of requirement.

should not simply

Similar to "should not only", but uses "simply" to emphasize a lack of complexity.

need not only

Uses "need" instead of "ought", indicating a lack of necessity rather than obligation in a broader scope.

shouldn't just

Employs "shouldn't just", shifting the focus to what is minimally acceptable.

mustn't merely

Replaces "ought" with "must" and "only" with "merely", strengthening the initial obligation's denial.

is not just limited to

Focuses on expanding the scope beyond initial limitations.

need to also

Expresses a requirement to include something else, rather than exclude it from being the only thing.

extends beyond just

Highlights the idea that something goes beyond a single aspect.

is required additionally

Shifts the construction to passive voice, focusing on the requirement itself.

FAQs

How do you use "ought not only" in a sentence?

Use "ought not only" to express that an obligation or consideration extends beyond a single aspect. For example, "The government "ought not only" to focus on economic growth, but also on social welfare".

What's a formal alternative to "ought not only"?

A more formal alternative is "must not only". For example, "The report "must not only" detail the findings, but also provide actionable recommendations".

How does "ought not only" differ from "should not only"?

"Ought not only" implies a moral or strong advisory obligation, while "should not only" suggests a weaker recommendation. "You "ought not only" apologize, but also make amends" carries more weight than "You "should not only" apologize, but also make amends".

Can "ought not only" be replaced with "need not only"?

"Need not only" expresses a lack of necessity rather than an obligation. Using "need not only" changes the meaning of the sentence. For example, "We "ought not only" to consider the cost, but also the quality" is different from "We "need not only" consider the cost, but also the quality", where the first implies duty and second means no duty.