were applicable only to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were applicable only to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when specifying that certain conditions or rules apply exclusively to particular situations or subjects. Example: "The regulations were applicable only to businesses operating within the city limits."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Munich argued that those principles were applicable only to art taken from Jews, not works seized as part of the "degenerate art" purge.

The New York Times - Arts

And of course in Trainmen, where the litigation in question was, as here, solely designed to compensate the victims of industrial accidents, we rejected the contention made in dissent, see 377 U.S., at 10, 84 S.Ct. at 1118 (Clark, J ., that the principles announced in Button were applicable only to litigation for political purposes.

Cornell University

2. Costs computed were applicable only to DST camps conducted within 60 kms radius of the Bharatpur Eye Hospital.

BMC Ophthalmology

As the NOS results lacked variation and were applicable only to cohort studies, they were not used as weights in the pooled analyses.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The number of caregivers (n) for each item differs; as some of the items were applicable only to some respondents, for example, items on barrier gates at stairs were answered only by caregivers with stairs at their home.

BMC Pediatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This is applicable only to industrialised countries.

The Economist

This section is applicable only to obligations issued after December 31 , 1991

Cornell University

Ion-exchange strengthening is applicable only to alkali-containing glasses.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Microbiological assay is applicable only to the B vitamins.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The indirect method is applicable only to linear structures.

Structural Analysis In Theory and Practice

The Riemann method of integration was applicable only to continuous and a few discontinuous functions.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were applicable only to", ensure that the limited scope or specific context is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "These rules were applicable only to employees in the marketing department."

Common error

Avoid assuming that "were applicable only to" implies complete irrelevance elsewhere. Instead, clarify the degree of relevance or applicability in other contexts. For example, instead of saying "This law were applicable only to citizens", be specific as "This law were applicable only to citizens, but its principles may inform similar regulations for residents."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were applicable only to" functions as a restrictive modifier, limiting the scope of a statement or rule. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to specify particular circumstances or subjects to which something applies. The examples in Ludwig show its use in various contexts, from legal to scientific.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

Academia

30%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were applicable only to" is a grammatically correct phrase used to precisely define the limited scope of a rule, principle, or statement. According to Ludwig AI, it effectively restricts application to specific circumstances. Common usage contexts include scientific, academic and legal documents, as seen in Ludwig's examples. When writing, ensure the limited scope is well-defined to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "pertained solely to" or "applied specifically to", which offer similar precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were exclusively relevant to

Replaces "applicable" with "relevant" and emphasizes exclusivity with "exclusively".

pertained solely to

Uses "pertained" to indicate relevance and "solely" to emphasize the limitation.

applied specifically to

Substitutes "applicable" with "applied" and uses "specifically" for emphasis.

were uniquely suited for

Emphasizes the unique suitability of something for a particular context.

were restricted to

Indicates that something is limited or confined to a specific scope.

were limited to

Focuses on the limited nature of the application.

held true only for

Indicates that a statement or condition is valid only in certain cases.

concerned solely with

Highlights that the focus is entirely on a particular subject or area.

were designated for

Suggests a specific designation or purpose for something.

were tailored exclusively for

Indicates that something was custom-made or adapted solely for a particular use.

FAQs

How can I use "were applicable only to" in a sentence?

Use "were applicable only to" to specify a limited context where something is relevant or valid. For example, "The discount codes were applicable only to online purchases".

What is a good alternative to "were applicable only to"?

Alternatives include "applied specifically to", "pertained solely to", or "were exclusively relevant to".

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

The choice between "was" and "were" depends on the subject. Use "was" with singular subjects (e.g., "the rule was applicable only to...") and "were" with plural subjects (e.g., "the rules were applicable only to...").

What's the difference between "were applicable only to" and "were generally applicable to"?

"Were applicable only to" indicates a limited scope, whereas "were generally applicable to" suggests broader relevance but not necessarily universal application. The former is restrictive, while the latter is inclusive.