only

1. adverb

1)

there was only enough for two

Syn:

at most, at best, (only) just, no/not more than; barely, scarcely, hardly, narrowly

2)

she works only on one painting at a time

Syn:

exclusively, solely, to the exclusion of everything else

3)

you're only saying that

Syn:

merely, simply, just

2. adjective

their only son

Syn:

sole, single, one (and only), solitary, lone, unique; exclusive

••

only

In normal, everyday English, the tendency is to place the word only as early as possible in the sentence, generally just before the verb, and the result is rarely ambiguous. Misunderstandings are possible, however, and grammarians have debated the matter for more than two hundred years. Advice varies, but in general, ambiguity is less likely if only is placed as close as is naturally possible to the word(s) to be modified or emphasized: The wording Bill ate only the salad explains that the salad was the sole item that Bill ate. There is no doubt what the statement means. The clear implication is that Bill did not eat the ham, the dessert, or anything else that may have been available.The wording Bill only ate the salad almost certainly means the same thing, but in a literal sense, there is indeed some doubt. The linking of only with ate could imply that what Bill did to the salad was simply eat it; he did not prepare it, or spill it, or throw it across the room, or anything else that one could imagine doing to a salad.

In normal conversation, the second statement would probably not be so misunderstood, but, especially when writing, it's never a mistake to favor the less ambiguous wording.