this time only

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this time only" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you wish to emphasize that something is happening for the designated occurrence only, and not as a continuing pattern. For example: "I'm willing to lend you money this time only, so you'd better be sure to pay it back."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This time, only some of us did.

The New York Times

This time, only one person survived.

Independent

But this time, only very slightly.

The Guardian - Books

This time, only four pins fell.

The New York Times - Style

After all this time, only his face is complete.

The New York Times

This time, only Haikal was willing to go.

The New York Times

At this time, only four devices have been recovered.

The Guardian

This time only one life has been lost.

The Economist

This time, only a few raised their hands.

The New York Times

This time, only the lavender flowers contained a sugary solution.

The Economist

At this time only a single actor and camera can be controlled.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this time only" to clearly set expectations when making exceptions or granting concessions to prevent future assumptions.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "this time only", as it can weaken its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Explore alternative expressions like "just this once" or "for this occasion alone" to maintain variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this time only" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the temporal scope of an action or statement. As supported by Ludwig AI, it limits the action to the current instance and implies non-repetition. Example: "I will approve it this time only."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

28%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this time only" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that something is happening as a singular exception. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely used across news, academic, and scientific contexts to set boundaries and manage expectations. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and explore alternative expressions like "just this once" to add variety to your writing. By understanding its function and context, you can effectively use "this time only" to convey your intended meaning with clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just this once

Emphasizes the singularity of the event with a stronger sense of exception.

for this occasion alone

Highlights the specific situation as the sole reason for the action.

on this one occasion

More formal way of stating that something is happening a single time.

this is the only time

Directly states the absence of future repetition.

not again

Implies a change from past events; that this action will not be repeated.

one time only

A very literal variation that emphasizes the limited nature of the offering or action.

solely for now

Focuses on the present moment as the limit.

a unique opportunity

Suggests the singularity based on positive advantage; there is no implication that is not replicable.

a single instance

More formal and technical, indicating isolated and discrete occurrence.

this is exceptional

Emphasizes that the current event is an exception to a general rule.

FAQs

How can I use "this time only" in a sentence?

You can use "this time only" to indicate a singular exception or occurrence, as in "I'll help you with your homework "this time only", but you need to learn to do it yourself".

What can I say instead of "this time only"?

You can use alternatives like "just this once", "for this occasion alone", or "on this one occasion" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "only this time" instead of "this time only"?

While "only this time" is understandable, "this time only" is more common and grammatically conventional. Both phrases aim to convey a singular occurrence, but "this time only" is generally preferred in formal writing.

What's the difference between "this time only" and "this one time"?

"This time only" emphasizes that the action or event is an exception and won't be repeated, whereas "this one time" simply highlights that it happened once. The former implies a limit, while the latter merely states a fact. You could also consider "just this once" as a closer alternative.