Only – the lonely

Only – the lonely

Why did rock icon Roy Orbison sing about “Only the Lonely”? It was probably because the word only IS lonely – lonely because it’s always getting lost. As in lost in a sentence, far from where it should be.

And boy, oh, boy, is it a common error.

Only should be, in most cases, as close to the word(s) it applies to as possible. Part of the problem seems to be, however, that many writers and editors can’t figure that part out, either.

Here are some examples and an explanation as to why they are good or bad uses of only, but first try to make that determination for yourself:   

1)   Good or bad? John only went to the store to pass the time before his trip.

2)   Good or bad? He only wanted to let women and children survive among the village rebels.

3)   Good or bad? The government passed the law only after years of steady pressure from the senator.

4)   Good or bad? She only has lost one election.

5)   Good or bad? Taking this medicine only works when the patient has a certain blood type.

Answers:

1) BAD.  The point in all these sentences is to clarify what only is specifically referring to – and in this one it’s NOT John. By placing only right after John, it makes the sentence read like “John and only John (as in he was the lone person to do so) went to the store.” What the only refers to here is not John but the action of going to the store – as in his reason for going to the store was only to pass the time. 

Do you see it? Thus the sentence should be corrected to John went to the store only to pass the time before his trip.

2) BAD.    The same basic mistake is made in this sentence. With only next to He, it suggests that He is the lone person who favors letting the women and children live. Not so. The point is he wants only the women and children to live, not that he’s the only one who who wants it. So we should correct the sentence to He wanted to let only women and children survive among the village rebels.

3) GOOD.    The word only is placed exactly where it needs to be, after the action. The action came about (the law was passed) only after pressure. Only works as an adverb here, modifying passed.

4) BAD.   By putting only right after the subject and not after the verb, it again makes it sound like the nonsensical statement that She is the lone person ever to have lost just one election. Of course, we really mean that of all the elections she has entered, she has lost only one of them. So the correct way to structure the sentence is She has lost only one election.

5) BAD.    Again, only belongs after the verb (works), not before, because by placing it next to medicine it reads that taking this medicine alone (not needing to take any other medicine) will solve the problem. What we are intending to do is nearly the opposite: We want to place extreme limits on when the medicine will function, saying it will work only for patients with a certain blood type. Therefore, the sentence should be modified to read Taking this medicine works only when the patient has a certain blood type.

Here’s a recent example of a lost only from mlb.com:

After a couple hiccups early in the season, Doubront (6-3, 3.91 ERA) has given up only three or more earned runs twice in his past 11 starts.

The point of only in the above sentence is NOT to highlight the fact that the pitcher gave up three or more earned runs but to highlight that in 11 starts he had done so only twice (an admirable feat). So only belongs near the word it highlights, which means the sentence should have been recast as After a couple hiccups early in the season, Doubront (6-3, 3.91 ERA) has given up three or more earned runs only twice in his past 11 starts.

There are other ways to abuse the word only, but we’re referring mainly to its (ab)use as an adverb. First, a definition is in order, courtesy of Merriam Webster online. It also lists several good examples of only as an adverb, and the usage discussion is worthwhile reading   :

¹on·ly

adjective \ˈōn-lē\

Definition of ONLY

1

: unquestionably the best : peerless

2

a : alone in a class or category : sole <the only one left> <the only known species>

b : having no brother or sister <an only child>

3

: few <one of the only areas not yet explored>

See only defined for English-language learners »

See only defined for kids »

Examples of ONLY

1. <the only way to really appreciate the beauty of the forest is to walk through it>
2. <that is the only possible right answer>

Related to ONLY

Synonyms

incomparable, inimitable, matchless, nonpareil, peerless, unequaled (or unequalled), unexampled, unmatched, unparalleled, unrivaled (or unrivalled), unsurpassable, unsurpassed, out of sight

²only

adverb

Definition of ONLY

1

a : as a single fact or instance and nothing more or different : merely <has only lost one election — George Orwell>

b : solely, exclusively <known only to him>

2

: at the very least <it was only too true>

3

a : in the final outcome <will only make you sick>

b : with nevertheless the final result <won the battles, only to lose the war>

4

a : as recently as : not before <only last week> <only in the last year did she get recognition>

b : in the immediate past <only just talked to her>

See only defined for English-language learners »

Usage Discussion of ONLY

The placement of only in a sentence has been a source of studious commentary since the 18th century, most of it intended to prove by force of argument that prevailing standard usage is wrong. After 200 years of preachment the following observations may be made: the position of only in standard spoken English is not fixed, since ambiguity is avoided through sentence stress; in casual prose that keeps close to the rhythms of speech only is often placed where it would be in speech; and in edited and more formal prose only tends to be placed immediately before the word or words it modifies.

Examples of ONLY

1. She had been there only twice in her life.
2. There are only two more weeks until summer vacation.
3. It's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
4. Do you really have to leave? It's only eight o'clock.
5. He was only a baby when his father died.
6. Leave her alone. She's only a kid.
7. The building is only about 10 years old.
8. It was quiet in the room, but only for a moment.
9. She is only partly to blame.
10. The club is for women only.

³only

conjunction

Definition of ONLY

1

a : with the restriction that : but <you may go, only come back early>

b : and yet : however <they look very nice, only we can't use them>

2

: were it not that : except <I'd introduce you to her, only you'd win her — Jack London>

See only defined for English-language learners »

Examples of ONLY

1. I'd love to sing along, only I don't know the words.
2. They did have a radio, only it was broken.
3. We wanted to buy that painting, only it was far too expensive.

I’m hoping that if you are taking the time to read this blog you take good writing seriously, but perhaps you are shrugging your shoulders and muttering, “So what? What difference does it make?”

It DOES make a difference. Every word, every letter, has a function (“Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?”) in a sentence. The order of the words you use absolutely does matter. It’s not persnickety or anal or needlessly critical to want them all to be used correctly. The point of any writing is to convey a message to someone else. You want your message to be as effective and easily understood as possible. Accuracy helps that message get through and eliminates obstacles to your message being understood the way you want it to be.

How does that somehow come across as an unworthy goal of any writer or editor – or reader, for that matter?

I could cite dozens of examples from editing more than 100,000 stories in my professional career, but here is one that speaks for many: I can’t count the times (but the figure has to be at least 500) I’ve rescued a sentence in a story that was missing only one measly three-letter word. Just three letters. Surely that can’t be worth all the fuss. Oh, yeah? The word is  .   Sentences such as he pleaded guilty when the writer clearly meant not guilty. Gee, only a complete departure from what the incredibly careless writer/editor meant. You know, George Zimmerman was found guilty. Oops, not guilty. Close enough. Golly, no big difference, right? 

Still think words don’t matter?

So, if you take ONLY one thing from today’s lesson, it is that words matter and SO DOES THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU PLACE THEM IN YOUR WRITING. Be the superior type who wants his or her writing to be free of confusion or errors and be sure to put only in its proper place. Otherwise, Orbison’s “Only the Lonely” will continue to have an added meaning for you!

Remember,  CAN PREVENT bad writing.

 

It's time to wrap it up. 

My next post will explain why the incredibly common between/and construction (such as the literally impossible “Between 2011 and 2012”)  is nearly always wrong and should be a from/to or an in/and construction instead. Stay tuned ...