he/his/her etc. Note, however, that most speakers find the repetition of one awkward and try to avoid it: ‘One cannot succeed without working hard.’ ‘Success calls for a lot of hard work.’ See also Language Note at HE 10
See EVERYONE 1 one another The children get on well one another.
The children get on well with one another. They had good opinions one another.
They had good opinions of one another. You use prepositions in front of one another (pronoun) in the same way as you use prepositions in front of him, her, us, etc. Compare: ‘I often write to her.’ ‘We often write to one another.’ See also EACH OTHER only 1
The level of pollution can only be reduced by the introduction of new laws.
The level of pollution can be reduced only by the introduction of new laws. To avoid confusion in written English, only is usually placed as near as possible to the word or phrase that it modifies. Compare: ‘Alison only posted the letter to Mr Jones.’ (= she didn’t write it) ‘Alison posted only the letter to Mr Jones.’ (= she didn’t post the other letters) In spoken English the position of only is less important because the speaker uses stress to make the meaning clear. 2
If you only would stay longer, your English would improve.
If only you would stay longer, your English would improve. If you would only stay longer, your English would improve.
When if only is used to express a wish, the two words usually stay together: ‘
