may only find vs may find only

Both "may only find" and "may find only" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "May only find" implies that finding is restricted to a certain group or situation, while "may find only" suggests that finding is limited to a specific quantity or type. The choice between them depends on the intended emphasis in the sentence.

Last updated: March 29, 2024 • 817 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"may only find"

This phrase is used to indicate that the finding is restricted to a specific group or situation. It emphasizes the limitation in the finding process.

Examples:

You may only find the key in the top drawer.
She may only find peace in nature.
Students may only find the answer in the textbook.
Visitors may only find the entrance on the east side.
The detective may only find clues in the basement.

Alternatives:

might only find
can only find

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"may find only"

This phrase is used to indicate that the finding is limited to a specific quantity or type. It emphasizes the restriction in the number or type of findings.

Examples:

You may find only three apples in the basket.
She may find only one opportunity to speak.
Students may find only a few errors in the essay.
Visitors may find only a couple of exhibits open.
The detective may find only a single clue at the crime scene.

Show examples from the web [+]

By the time we finish, you may find yourself not only not an abnormal girl, but one of the few genuinely normal people on Earth.
Otherwise, we may find ourselves following the example of the moth which, in its longing to draw closer to light and heat, often finds only death.
I'm afraid you would find only an empty cell.
You reach out to find only a void.
You beg for work but find only contempt and the darkest oblivion.
You will find only pain, living in the past.
Instead, you'll find only one item...
I left Isaak here outnumbered and expected to find only his body.
Behind these eyes one finds only blackness, the absence of light.
If I'm torn apart, you'll find only her in me.
We find only a desert full of rocks, and a prison.
From there on you'll find only savage Jivaros and Campas.
If you log on to ICANN's own home page, you find only scanty details of what has actually happened.
I could find only one medium stiff-bristled faux bone-handled lady's hairbrush.
If you reached out your hand to touch me, it would find only air.
In most cases, when you find only the jacket, it means the core had separated.
My guess - if we cross-reference it with army medical doctors, we'll find only a few with a name of that length.
At last, they did find only one straw sandal in the coffin.
When we look at the map of excellence network participants in the Sixth Framework Programme, we find only blank spaces in the east.
Those who fail will find only death.

Alternatives:

may only be able to find
may be able to find only

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may only find vs may find only

"may only find"

"may find only"

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