# Anyone else have difficulty interpreting "only" statements? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-difficulty-interpreting-only-statements/447605 "2008-05-01T14:46:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duhkecco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Duhkecco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duhkecco)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-difficulty-interpreting-only-statements/447605/1 "2008-05-01T14:46:34Z")
Usually, I can understand a statement’s meaning even if the sentence violates some guidelines of grammar or proper usage. But, for me, a misplaced “only” can be confusing. For example: “You only have access to one account.” Does it mean: 1. I am \*the only one \* who has access. Nobody else has access. 2. I am the only one who has access to \*one particular \* account. Nobody else has access to that account. 3. I am the only one who has access to \*one \* account. Everyone else has access to more than one account. 4. I have access, but _only access_, not something else. 5. I have access to \*only one \* account, not two or more. I’m sure that #5 is the intended meaning, with the key being “\*one \* account”. I think that the least likely interpretation is #4, but isn’t it the “correct” interpretation? Does anyone else think that the sentence is ambiguous, or is the meaning obvious to you? ---
**Author:** ![Duhkecco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Duhkecco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duhkecco)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-difficulty-interpreting-only-statements/447605/2 "2008-05-01T14:54:27Z")
No edit? 😕 Instead of “I’m sure that #5 is the intended meaning”, I should have written: “After a few seconds of reflection, it’s now clear to me that #5 …” ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-difficulty-interpreting-only-statements/447605/3 "2008-05-01T14:56:38Z")
#5 Seems perfectly clear to me. #1 - 3 would be worded ‘Only you have access…’ ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-difficulty-interpreting-only-statements/447605/4 "2008-05-01T15:30:36Z")
#5 This was taught to me as a kid: Only Mr Jones slept in the house last night. Mr Jones only slept in the house last night. Mr Jones slept only in the house last night. Mr Jones slept in the only house last night. Mr Jones slept in the house last night only. They are all different. ---
**Author:** ![50million](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/9fc348/32.png) [@50million](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/50million)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-difficulty-interpreting-only-statements/447605/5 "2008-05-01T15:30:47Z")
“only” is a misplaced modifier in this sentence. As written, the sentence means #4, (something along the lines of, you can see the account, but can’t make any changes). I would also assume that the person _meant_ #5. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-difficulty-interpreting-only-statements/447605/6 "2008-05-01T15:59:46Z")
Number 5 is the meaning, however depending on context I could maybe see #4 also. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-difficulty-interpreting-only-statements/447605/7 "2008-05-01T16:28:23Z")
#5 is the most natural interpretation, but there is some ambiguity. I could imagine delivering the line so that it meant #3, for instance. “No, James! Don’t put that in your ear. Those drops are for your eyes only!” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-difficulty-interpreting-only-statements/447605/8 "2008-05-01T16:47:12Z")
> [@](#): > > “only” is a misplaced modifier in this sentence. As written, the sentence means #4, (something along the lines of, you can see the account, but can’t make any changes). I would also assume that the person meant #5. I disagree. That would be “You have only access to one account.” ---
**Author:** ![50million](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/9fc348/32.png) [@50million](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/50million)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-difficulty-interpreting-only-statements/447605/9 "2008-05-01T17:44:12Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] I disagree. That would be “You have only access to one account.” [/QUOTE] Yeah, you’re right. But that’s a _really_ strict interpretation that wasn’t present in the choices given in the OP. But yes, you are correct, the modifier “only” is directly in front of “have” (in the original sentence).