we only received

USAGE SUMMARY

"we only received" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that had been expected or anticipated, and that was not fully realized. For example: "We had hoped to get many more donations for the charity drive, but we only received a few."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

We only received speeches from the West".

The New York Times

We only received the proposals in December.

The Guardian

Yesterday we asked for three sides of beef, and we only received one.

The New York Times

"In fact, we only received it about two and a half hours ago".

The New York Times

Lots of money was spent on lawyers, and we only received our status – "limited leave to remain" – after I had left school.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The contracts we signed were not what the lawyers said they would be, for example of the $150m [£97m] paid to our company, we only received 17%," the group's leader Luis Urzúa, told reporters at the courthouse.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

It does rely on GPS, but we only receive signals.

Cornell University

The production of this edition is very expensive and we only receive limited funding from public sources for this project.

University of California, Berkeley

Currently, we only receive 8% of the funding needed for our humanitarian assistance plan and most of that goes towards food aid.

The Guardian

This ensures that we only receive legal pulpwood from areas under legal license that have passed all necessary ecological and social assessments.

The Guardian

I'm reading about £8m, but if we only receive that then I'd rather keep the player," he said yesterday.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we only received" to clearly indicate a shortfall or limitation in what was expected or requested, highlighting the discrepancy between expectation and reality.

Common error

Ensure that the placement of "only" is precise to avoid unintended meanings. For instance, "We received only the first shipment" emphasizes that you received the initial shipment but nothing else, whereas "We only received the first shipment" could inadvertently imply that you did nothing else with the first shipment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we only received" primarily functions as a statement of fact, indicating that the subject obtained something, but in a limited or restricted quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

34%

Academia

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we only received" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate a limitation in what was obtained, according to Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific domains, it often conveys a sense of disappointment or insufficiency. To improve clarity, writers should be cautious about the placement of "only" to avoid unintended meanings. Ludwig's examples show that this phrase is versatile, fitting into various contexts while consistently expressing a restricted reception.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were only given

Focuses on the act of giving rather than receiving, emphasizing the source's action.

we were only provided with

Similar to "we were only given", but more formal.

we received just

Emphasizes the limited amount received using "just".

all we received was

Highlights the totality of what was received, often contrasting it with expectations.

we only got

More informal alternative, indicating a limited quantity obtained.

we were limited to

Highlights the restriction or limitation imposed on what was received.

we merely received

Emphasizes the insignificance or smallness of what was received.

we obtained solely

More formal alternative, emphasizing exclusivity in what was obtained.

we exclusively received

Highlights the limited source.

we ended up with

Indicates the final result of receiving, often implying less than expected.

FAQs

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

Use "we only received" to express that you obtained a limited or smaller amount of something than expected. For example, "We sent out invitations to 100 people, but "we only received" 20 RSVPs."

What phrases are similar to "we only received"?

Similar phrases include "we were only given", "we only got", or "we received just", all conveying a sense of limitation or insufficiency.

Is it grammatically correct to say "we only received"?

Yes, "we only received" is grammatically correct. The placement of "only" before "received" is standard and conveys the intended meaning of having obtained a limited amount.

What's the difference between "we only received" and "we just received"?

"We only received" emphasizes a limited quantity, while "we just received" indicates the recentness of the receipt, regardless of the quantity.