Apr 13, 2017this is why logicians use iff for 'if and only if'. I think it would be useful in real life, but can't see it catching on. Only but (also but only):
Oxford english dictionary (login required) below are some only but examples from the corpus. I can only do so much in this time. Or i can do only so much in this time.
Sep 7, 2010not only are there students in the room, but also parents. Mar 9, 2016for only in the upper class, the only restricts in the inclusion (in, as opposed to out). But no matter which you restrict, there are only two groups under discussion -- upperclass.
Jan 1, 20227 [1] [only sue and mark] bothered to turn up for the meeting. [2] [only an idiot] would do that. In both examples, "only" is an adverb functioning as a focusing modifier in the.
The oxford english dictionary defines but only (which can also occur as only but) as meaning ‘ (a) only, merely; (b) except only’, and comments that its use is now poetical. Jun 9, 2020however, "one and only one" adds emphasis to the fact that there is only one, and draws attention to it.
For example, the student who is the only one who failed, might feel more. In " only when ", there is a sense of urgency, a slightly more 'involved' writing. "it was only when" is by comparision more 'relaxed' writing, more like someone is recounting something to someone.
