there were only

USAGE SUMMARY

"there were only" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation in which there is a limited amount of something. For example: "There were only a few chairs available, so some people had to stand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There were only twelve tables.

The New Yorker

… There were only civilians here.

The Guardian

There were only minor hitches.

The Economist

There were only three girls.

The New Yorker

There were only a few.

The New York Times - Travel

But there were only 11.6m.

The Economist

"There were only sections".

The New York Times

There were only Americans.

The New York Times

There were only outlines.

The New York Times

There were only missiles.

The New York Times - Sports

There were only biscuits [biskweet].

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there were only", ensure the context clearly indicates what the limited quantity refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "there were only" without clearly specifying what the limitation applies to. For example, instead of saying "There were only problems", specify "There were only three major problems with the project", to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were only" functions as an existential quantifier indicating a limited quantity or number of something. It asserts the existence of something, but specifies that the amount is restricted. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

18%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were only" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a limited quantity or number. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as an existential quantifier and serves to express limitation or scarcity across various registers. Predominantly found in news and media, and academic contexts, it’s essential to ensure clarity in usage by specifying the scope of the limitation to avoid ambiguity. Remember that, while alternatives like "just a few" or "limited to" exist, the best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there existed just

Replaces 'were' with 'existed' and 'only' with 'just', emphasizing the existence rather than the quantity.

there were merely

Substitutes 'only' with 'merely', indicating a sense of insignificance or bare minimum.

there were simply

Replaces 'only' with 'simply', highlighting the straightforward or uncomplicated nature of the limited quantity.

there were but

Uses the archaic 'but' in place of 'only', adding a formal or literary tone.

only a few

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the small quantity directly.

just a handful

Emphasizes the small number with 'handful', implying a readily countable quantity.

no more than

Indicates a maximum limit, emphasizing that the quantity did not exceed a certain amount.

restricted to

Highlights the limitation or constraint imposed on the quantity.

limited to

Focuses on the constraint on the number or amount of something.

a scarce number of

Highlights the scarcity of the quantity, indicating it was not easily available.

FAQs

How can I use "there were only" in a sentence?

Use "there were only" to indicate a limited quantity or number of something. For example, "There were only five tickets left for the concert".

What are some alternatives to "there were only"?

Alternatives include phrases like "just a few", "merely", or "limited to" to express a small quantity or restriction.

Is it correct to say "there was only" instead of "there were only"?

Use "there was only" for singular nouns and "there were only" for plural nouns. For example, "There was only one apple" versus "There were only a few apples".

What is the difference between "there were only" and "there were just"?

Both phrases convey a limited quantity, but "there were just" may sometimes imply a sense of surprise or disbelief at how few there were, whereas "there were only" is more neutral.