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Which is better or more common? 1. Each transmission antenna is only connected to the amplification unit. 2. Each transmission antenna is connected only to the amplification unit. 3. Each transmission antenna is connected to the amplification unit only.

ChatGPT:

The most common and natural choice is Option 2:

✅ "Each transmission antenna is connected only to the amplification unit."

Explanation:

• Option 1 ("is only connected to") → This structure could be ambiguous because "only" before "connected" might imply that the antennas have no other function than being connected, rather than emphasizing exclusivity of the connection.
• Option 2 ("is connected only to") → This correctly emphasizes that the transmission antenna is connected exclusively to the amplification unit and nothing else.
• Option 3 ("is connected to ... only") → While grammatically fine, it sounds a bit less natural and could be misread as emphasizing "unit" rather than the exclusivity of the connection.

Thus, Option 2 is the clearest and most common way to express the intended meaning. 👍

あなた：

Option 1 was written by a native speaker of English. Would you still correct it to option 2?

ChatGPT:

If a native speaker wrote Option 1, I wouldn't necessarily correct it outright, but I would suggest Option 2 for greater clarity, especially in technical or formal writing.

Why?

• Option 1 ("Each transmission antenna is only connected to the amplification unit.") is grammatically correct, but "only" before "connected" could create ambiguity.

  • It might be interpreted as:
    "The sole purpose of each transmission antenna is to be connected (and do nothing else)."
  • Instead of emphasizing "it is connected to nothing else but the amplification unit", which is likely the intended meaning.

• Option 2 ("Each transmission antenna is connected only to the amplification unit.") avoids this ambiguity and clearly states that the connection is exclusive.

Would I change it?

• In casual conversation or informal writing, Option 1 is fine.
• In technical, legal, or formal writing, I would revise it to Option 2 for clarity.

Even native speakers sometimes phrase things in a way that could be clearer, especially in technical documents where precision matters. 😊