Technical Writing Tip: Placement of the Word 'Only'

If there’s one word that can derail an otherwise clear sentence, it’s only.  

Only changes a sentence’s meaning depending on where it appears. In technical and professional writing, where precision matters, a misplaced only can leave readers second-guessing your message.  

The word only 

Only is a modifier, a word that changes or describes another word. It can operate as an adjective or an adverb. 

Only becomes confusing when it’s intended to limit a word in a sentence but gets put in the wrong spot, and readers are left to figure out the intended meaning. 

Only in writing 

Here’s an example:  

Because only is placed before the verb “stops,” we assume it’s limiting the elevator’s stops. This would suggest the elevator does not stop on any other floor during office hours, which is unlikely. 

Readers would eventually conclude that the sentence probably means that the elevator does not stop on the third floor outside of office hours.  

As communicators, we’d rather not make our readers figure this out. Instead, the sentence could read: 

It’s “office hours” that needs to be limited to make the sentence clear. Only could also go at the end of the sentence after “office hours” since it’s stating an exclusion. 

When deciding where only should go in the sentence, ask yourself: what am I modifying or limiting with only? Then place it closest to that word. 

Only in conversation 

In casual speech, we’re able to use our voices to emphasize individual words and provide cadence that makes our meaning clear, so when we say only won’t likely affect our meaning.  

However, in technical writing, clarity is essential, and we must be deliberate in where we place only.