speak English only vs speak only English

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. 'Speak English only' means to exclusively speak English without using any other language. 'Speak only English' emphasizes that English is the only language that should be spoken, without any other activities or distractions.

Last updated: April 04, 2024 • 1407 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate speaking exclusively in English.

"speak English only"

This phrase is used to emphasize that only English should be spoken, without any other languages involved.

Examples:

Please speak English only during the meeting.
I prefer to speak English only when I travel abroad.

Show examples from the web [+]

We would be much obliged if you could call us by this number: If you are calling from the US you can use our toll free number: European customers please use our UK phone number: We speak ENGLISH only.
Even people who say they speak English, only 14 percent pass.
Seated around their fires, they do not speak English, only German.
Many Jordanians speak English and not only people involved in the tourism business.
And you will only speak English here.
From this moment on, you will only speak English.
In England, I only speak English.
I only speak English, white boy.
And you will only speak English here.
We are both from the Netherlands so we could only speak English.
Hong Kong people love to speak English. 97 is only around the block.
Players may only speak English while a hand is in progress.
When Bart is sent by his captors into town to buy a case of antifreeze, he sees a gendarme and tries to ask for help, but the man does not speak English and only gives Bart a piece of candy.
You speak only in English and only about family matters.
There are those who speak only English and only Italian.
Otherwise the owner is very nice, although she speaks only French, which could pose a problem for those who only speak English.
Of course quality is improved by our professional drivers that not only speak English at a good level but are also able to take the customers wherever they want showing knowledge of the roads and driving skills.
Nicky, when in England we speak only English.
Lisa speaks not only English but also French.
Quite frankly, my new manager speaks only English.

Alternatives:

Only speak English
Speak in English only
Use English exclusively
Speak solely in English
Speak English and nothing else

This phrase is also correct and conveys the message that English is the only language that should be spoken, without any other activities or distractions.

"speak only English"

This phrase emphasizes that English is the sole language to be spoken, without any other languages involved.

Examples:

Please speak only English in this class.
She can speak only English fluently.

Show examples from the web [+]

Nicky, when in England we speak only English.
Maybe we need speak only English at home.
We speak only English or Hindi and looking only for someone who at least knows one of these language.
At first his mother spoke Swiss-German at home, but Dad said they should speak only English.
Bilingual teachers are often employed in the lower elementary grades to expedite that goal, but the tendency toward children learning to speak only English, mingled with occasional Spanish, remains dominant.
There are those who speak only English and only Italian.
We speak only English or Hindi and looking only for someone who at least...
Excellent. And since you are to speak English like an English lady, from now on, we will speak only English.
I speak only English, they speak only Italian, so we had no way to communicate.
On the occasion of this ceremony, in our convent we will meet the relatives of our fellow sister, from various countries, including many children, some of whom speak only English.
The manual is in four languages, I speak only English and German, so I cannot vouch for the rest, but the German translation is spot on...
As of 2000 91% of Delaware residents age 5 and older speak only English at home; 5% speak Spanish.
My problem is that I do not want to speak only English with a mother-tongue English-speaking Director-General of the Commission, for example, and I do not want one culture to have excessive influence.
We will speak only English now.
Today we speak only English.

Alternatives:

Only speak English
Speak English exclusively
Use English only
Speak solely English
Speak English and nothing else

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speak English only vs speak only English