we only opened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we only opened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that the action of opening something was the sole action taken, often in a context where other actions might have been expected. Example: "We only opened the box to check its contents, not to keep anything inside."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Then we only "opened" the driver for 3-4 duringuring DD, by feeding food for that length of time.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Then we only open them up to scholars".

The New York Times - Arts

And yet, if we only open our eyes (and perhaps our hearts) we could probably find chronicles of peace, incidents of peace, allegories and yarns and fables of peace everywhere.

The Guardian - Books

It may not sound like a cheery beach read, but Miéville writes convincingly and positively, showing the issues of a society in which people are blind to each other, and emphasising how much things can improve if we only open our eyes a little wider.

The Guardian - Books

"We only open one of our centres for 30 minutes, just to admit people who can fill in the beds of the people who died overnight.

The Guardian

"Our rent is more than $6,000 a month and we only open for the 81 home games per year, so we have to make sure we're ready for every game," said Nick Madio, a co-owner of the grill.

The New York Times

When I called Pratt's Club to ask whether women were admitted, the friendly steward (a woman) explained that they were not, with a logic that wasn't entirely easy to follow: "They still don't allow women in because it is a supper club; we only open at seven at night.

The Guardian

We only open Fridays and Saturdays, and Thursdays once a month.

Vice

We were only opened for minutes at a time for grub and slop-out, but whenever we could, everyone met up for quick chats in Terry's cell.

The Guardian

And we've only opened 450 square meters.

Science Magazine

"As we've only opened up access to non-Australian markets recently, our user base is still heavily Australian (more than >60% of traffic), followed closely by U.S., Europe and Asia traffic," Chen tells me.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we only opened" to clearly convey that the action of opening was the sole or primary action, especially when clarifying limited involvement or scope.

Common error

Avoid using "we only opened" if further actions or implications followed the opening; instead, clarify the subsequent steps to provide a more accurate and complete picture of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we only opened" primarily functions as a declarative statement. It asserts a specific action was limited to opening, clarifying the scope of activity. Ludwig examples corroborate its use in describing restricted actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we only opened" is grammatically correct and signifies that the action was limited to opening something, without further actions. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is used across diverse contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While not exceedingly common, its straightforward nature makes it valuable for clarity. Related alternatives include "we just opened" and "we merely opened", varying slightly in emphasis. Use the phrase carefully to accurately reflect the scope of actions, avoiding overstatement of its implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we just opened

This alternative shortens the phrase, replacing "only" with "just" to indicate recent action.

we merely opened

Replaces "only" with "merely" to emphasize the limited nature of the action.

we have only opened

Adds "have" to specify that the action is completed but recent.

we had only opened

Uses "had" to refer to an action completed in the past before another event.

we simply opened

Replaces "only" with "simply" to suggest the action was straightforward.

we exclusively opened

Uses "exclusively" to emphasize that only the opening action occurred, excluding others.

we primarily opened

Implies the primary action was opening, though other actions might have followed.

we essentially opened

Suggests that the opening was the key or most important action.

we initially opened

Highlights that the opening was the first step in a sequence of actions.

we started by opening

Focuses on the opening as the starting point of a process.

FAQs

How can I use "we only opened" in a sentence?

You can use "we only opened" to indicate that the action of opening something was the only action taken. For example, "We only opened the package to inspect the contents" suggests no further action was taken beyond inspection.

What's a more concise way to say "we only opened"?

Alternatives like "we just opened" or "we merely opened" can convey a similar meaning with fewer words, emphasizing the simplicity or limited nature of the action.

When is it appropriate to use "we only opened" instead of "we opened"?

Use "we only opened" when you want to specifically emphasize that no other actions were performed, or to correct a potential misunderstanding that more than just opening occurred. The simple form "we opened" is adequate when no specific clarification about limited actions is needed.

Is "we only opened" formal or informal?

The phrase "we only opened" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding language and the situation rather than the phrase itself.