only

only adj & adv Only, alone are often used interchangeably (though alone is not found in the attributive position), but seldom without a slight change in meaning or emphasis.

Only is especially appropriate when restriction to what is specified or asserted is implied and the term is equivalent to sole or solely; thus, "I want only this book" implies a wish for one and no more; "of all the family only John and Helen came," that is, the specified persons and no more

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to distinguish . . . that which is established because it is right, from that which is right only because it is established— Johnson

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Alone may be chosen when the idea of the elimination of all other possibilities is expressed and the term is the equivalent of exclusive or, more often, exclusively; thus, "I want this book alone" implies a wish for a particular one and no other; "of all the family John alone came," that is, John and none of the others

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man shall not live by bread alone—Mt 4:4

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