only led to a vs only led to the

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Only led to a' is used when referring to a singular outcome or consequence, while 'only led to the' is used when referring to a general or unspecified outcome. The choice between the two depends on whether you are emphasizing a specific result or a more general one.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 800 views

only led to a

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a singular outcome or consequence.

Use 'only led to a' when you want to emphasize a specific result or consequence that is singular in nature.

Examples:

The new policy only led to a decrease in productivity.
His actions only led to a loss of trust in the team.

Show examples from the web [+]

Furthermore, the background debate on this subject has only led to a limited number of negotiating mandates.
Therefore, the exclusive right respectively the dominant position not only led to a significant reduction of the business risks for the regulated services, but also for the non-price regulated universal and commercial services.
India and Pakistan were supposed to attempt this on their own, but this only led to a whole raft of small conflicts which - and the previous speakers were right to underline this - have taken on more threatening proportions since both countries have become nuclear powers.
Soil erosion and pollution have not only led to a loss of humus cover but also of a substantial proportion of the terrestrial microfauna.
Given, however, that this has led to only a temporary fall in dumped imports, can the Commission answer the following questions: 1.
The programmes concerned led only to a temporary increase of State ownership in banking in 1995, and again in 1998, due to the revocation of the license of Agrobanka.
This has inevitably affected cohesion, not only because it has led to a rise in unemployment, but also because it has created a climate which is not conducive to a further reduction in regional disparities in both income and employment.
The last honest kiss I had only led to sorrow.
But it only led to our damnation.
These have not only led to an increased risk of spread of disease, but also undermined public confidence in the effectiveness of the slaughter programme.
Every question that he answered about this school only led to more questions.
I had dreams of becoming a novelist, but my attempts at writing only led to my first nervous breakdown.
The issue is that the activities of credit rating agencies not only led to the current financial crisis, but have also helped make it worse.
This has not only led to substantial ongoing deforestation, with serious implications for the longer-term economic well-being of those living in these regions as well as for the healthy functioning of forest ecosystems, but also to violations of the rights of indigenous people.
This will be an indispensable instrument because it will eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy that, until now, has not only led to more money being wasted but has prevented State aid from bringing about progress and made it less suited to the purpose for which it was intended.
But how do you tell a dying man that the daughter he was looking for is gone, that the millions he sacrificed his own life to give her only led to her death?
For 5 years, a former governor, Mr Tribuni, has been informing the Italian Treasury of this state of affairs, which has only led to his being irregularly removed from office.
Renationalising part of the CAP could only have led to the ultimate disintegration and fragmentation of the common agricultural policy itself.
Damage to roads, bridges and government buildings and an air raid on the only power plant led to electricity shortages and water supply problems.
It never was historically - it only ever led to great tensions between nations - and it is not now.

Alternatives:

only resulted in a
only caused a
only brought about a
only led to an outcome of a
only led to a situation of a

only led to the

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a general or unspecified outcome.

Use 'only led to the' when you want to refer to a more general or unspecified result or consequence.