If and only if used in the same way means the same thing, except that only if is more forceful, more compelling If and only if is the most obligatory of the three, in which the action has been distinguished and emphasised, if, and only if it's the most forceful of the three I can only do so much in this time Or i can do only so much in this time. 2 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.
Only but (also but only) Oxford english dictionary (login required) below are some only but examples from the corpus of contemporary american english Swap in only or nothing but for only but to see Ultimately, there is only but one choice for you, no To consume the entire pint In only when , there is a sense of urgency, a slightly more 'involved' writing
Not only are there students in the room, but also parents (here, the parents are there part is not quite required, so you don't have to say but parents are also there because it's implied.) The wording implies that only b matters, not c, d, e, I will help you prepare for the meeting only if you finish your report This implies that finishing the report is a necessary but not necessarily sufficient condition for me to help you prepare for the meeting. For only in the upper class, the only restricts in the inclusion (in, as opposed to out)
When only after, only if, only in this way etc Are placed at the beginning of the sentence for rhetorical effect, the subject and auxiliary are inverted Only after lunch can you play. 'just' and 'only' carry a similar meaning, and while my feel for language usually helps me decide which one to use, there are times when i'm at a loss From my understanding, 'just' is used as a
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