e "alone" can be used instead.

In strictness perhaps the three following sentences:

(1) He _only_ beat three,

(2) He beat _only_ three,

(3) He beat three _only_, ought to be explained, severally, thus:

(1) He did no more than beat, did not kill, three.

(2) He beat no more than three.

(3) He beat three, and that was all he did. (Here _only_ modifies the
whole of the sentence and depreciates the action.)

But the best authors sometimes transpose the word. "He _only_ lived"
ought to mean "he did not die or make any great sacrifice;" but "He
_only_ lived but till he was a man" (_Macbeth_, v. 8. 40) means "He
lived _only_ till he was a man." Compare also, "Who _only_ hath
immortality."

_Only_ at the beginning of a statement = _but_. "I don't like to
importune you, _only_ I know you'll forgive me." Before an imperative
it diminishes the favour asked: "_Only_ listen to me." This use of
_only_ is mostly confined to letters.

Very often, _only_ at the beginning of a sentence is used for _alone_:
"_Only_ ten came," "_Only_ Caesar approved." _Alone_ is less ambiguous.
The ambiguity of _only_ is illustrated by such a sentence as, "Don't
hesitate to bring a few friends of yours to shoot on my estate at any
time. _Only_ five (fifteen) came yesterday," which might mean, "I
don't mind a _few_; _only_ don't bring so many as _fifteen_;" or else
"Don't hesitate to bring a few _more_; no more than _five_ came
yesterday." In conversation, ambiguity is prevented by emphasis; but
in a letter, _only_ thus used might cause unfortunate mistakes. Write
"Yesterday _only_ five came," if you mean "no more than five."

*22. When "not only" precedes "but also," see that each is followed by
the same part of speech.*

"He _not only_ gave me advice _but also_ help" is wrong. Write "He
gave me, _not only_ advice, _but also_ help." On the other hand, "He
_not only_ gave me a grammar, _but also_ lent me a dictionary," is
right. Take an instance. "He spoke _not only_ forcibly _but also_
tastefully (adverbs), and this too, _not only_ before a small
audience, _but also_ in (prepositions) a large public meeting, and his
speeches were _not only_ successful, _but also_ (adjective) worthy of
success."

*23. "At least," "always," and other adverbial adjuncts, sometimes
produce ambiguity.*

"I think you will find my Latin exercise, _at all events_, as good as
my cousin's." Does this mean (1) "my Latin exercise, though not
perhaps my ot