ABSTRACT
In speech, we avoid potential ambiguity by emphasising the word that only relates to:
I’ve only bought a coat. (and not a Rolls Royce) I’ve only bought a coat. (though I also fancied a skirt)
In the written medium, however, it may not always be clear whether only modifies the subject, the predicate, the object or the adjunct. For precision, therefore, only should be placed immediately before the sentence unit it modifies:
Only Jane got a rise last week. Jane only got a rise last week. Jane got only a rise last week. Jane got a rise only last week.
