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Discussion Groups / English Usage / April 2008Position of 'not only'
1) Deterrence *is determined not only* by the precision, but the magnitude of sanctions. 2) The real problem of tribalism *is not only based* on ethnic origins, but also on the basis of two opposed "economic tribes". Why is 'not only' after the verb in the first sentence, and between the auxiliary verb and the main verb in the second? Are both positions correct? > 1) Deterrence *is determined not only* by the precision, but the > magnitude of sanctions. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Are both positions correct? Neither is strictly speaking incorrect, but if I were editing such sentences I'd clarify and tidy them up as follows: 1) Deterrence is determined not only by the precision of sanctions, but also by their magnitude. 2) The real problem of tribalism is that it is not just based on different ethnic origins, but also on the the existence of opposed "economic tribes". > > 1) Deterrence *is determined not only* by the precision, but the > > magnitude of sanctions. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Neither is strictly speaking incorrect, Both the sentences above are awful in my view. > but if I were editing such > sentences I'd clarify and tidy them up as follows: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > different ethnic origins, but also on the the existence of opposed > "economic tribes". I don't agree with (2) (and not just because of "the the"!). IMO it should be: The real problem of tribalism is that it is based not just on different ethnic origins, but also on the existence of opposed "economic tribes". A rule you can use for "not only" and "not just" is that given the sentence "X not only/just Y, but also Z", the sentences "X Y" and "X Z" have to be grammatical. In your sentence we have X Y = The real problem of tribalism is that it is based on different ethnic origins. X Z = The real problem of tribalism is that it is on the existence of opposed "economic tribes". The second sentence is ungrammatical. >> > 1) Deterrence *is determined not only* by the precision, but the >> > magnitude of sanctions. [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > >The second sentence is ungrammatical. On the question of the positioning of "not only": If the sentence contains a verb (or verb phrase) that applies to both Y and Z then the verb can come before "not only" -- that is, the verb can be included in X (see 1 below). If the same verb is used for both Y and Z it can follow "not only", that is be included in Y, and can be explicit or assumed in Z (see 2). If different verbs are needed for Y and Z then "not only" should precede both of them -- that is, the verbs are included in Y and Z (see 3). 1. She is going to the city today to buy not only a new coat but also some cabbages. 2. She is going to the city today not only to buy a new coat but also (to buy) some cabbages. I would personally prefer 1 to 2. 3. She is going to the city today not only to buy a new coat and some cabbages but also to attend a job interview.  SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) On Apr 28, 2:34 pm, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" <m...@peterduncanson.net> wrote: > On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:54:17 -0700 (PDT), Matt > [quoted text clipped - 64 lines] > > I would personally prefer 1 to 2. Regarding (2), "She is going to the city today not only to buy a new coat but also some cabbages." is IMO of questionable grammatical correctness. >On Apr 28, 2:34 pm, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" <m...@peterduncanson.net> >wrote: >> If different verbs are needed for Y and Z then "not only" should >> precede both of them -- that is, the verbs are included in Y and [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > >is IMO of questionable grammatical correctness. It is an elliptical construction, in which the absent "to buy" before "some cabbages" can be inferred from the context. In full it would be: "She is going to the city today not only to buy a new coat but also to buy some cabbages." But, as I wrote, I prefer (1). I'll increase that to "greatly prefer". SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) > 1) Deterrence *is determined not only* by the precision, but the > magnitude of sanctions. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Are both positions correct? Yes. But it is also important to make sure that you have the same form of words following each part (not only/but also) of the expression. Strictly speaking, your two examples should be: 1) Deterrence is determined *not only* /by the precision/, *but [also]* /by the magnitude/ of sanctions. ("Also" is optional in the sentence, but I think I would have used it.) 2) The real problem of tribalism is *not only* /based on ethnic origins/, *but also* /based on the [mutual] opposition of two "economic tribes". As you can see, I've rewritten this sentence more extensively. I wanted not only to get parallel structures after the two parts of the expression, but to correct the phrase <problem ... is on the basis of ...>. A problem can be based on something, or it can be addressed on the basis of something, but it can't *be* on the basis of something. The second example could also be written with "based" taken out of the expression: 2) The real problem of tribalism is based *not only* /on ethnic origins/, *but also* /on the [mutual] opposition of two "economic tribes". "Nick": > 1) Deterrence *is determined not only* by the precision, but the > magnitude of sanctions. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Are both positions correct? Yes. The first usage is more precise -- it's clear that "only" modifies what follows it -- but has a somewhat formal tone. The second usage reflects a common colloquial style, where "only" is placed next to the main verb it the reader or listener is expected to understand what it's really modifying: in this case, the presence of "but also on" makes it clear, since "not only" and "but also" indicate parallelism. SignatureMark Brader "The best you can write will be the best you are. Toronto Every sentence is the result of a long probation." msb@vex.net -- Henry David Thoreau, 1841 > 1) Deterrence *is determined not only* by the precision, but the > magnitude of sanctions. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Are both positions correct? Instinctively, I would have rewritten them as follows: 1) Deterrence is determined not only by the precision, but also by the magnitude of sanctions. 2) The real problem of tribalism is based not only on ethnic origins, but also on the basis of two opposed economic tribes. Charles |
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