How to use merely

Question

I am not going to the dinner, merely to the cocktail hour.
Is this grammatical?
I am not going merely to the cocktail hour.

Answer 1

Yes, your sentence "I am not going to the dinner, merely to the cocktail hour" is grammatically correct. It effectively communicates that you are attending only the cocktail hour and not the dinner. The word "merely" emphasizes the limited extent of your attendance, indicating that you won't be present for the entire event.

"I am not going merely to the cocktail hour" is grammatically correct. It suggests that your intention is not solely to attend the cocktail hour, indicating that you have additional reasons or intentions beyond just going to the cocktail hour. The word "merely" in this context emphasizes that the cocktail hour is not the sole purpose or objective of your attendance.

Answer 2

The word "merely" is an adverb used to indicate that something is done or happens only, exclusively, or simply. Here are a few examples of how to use "merely" in sentences:

"I don't want to be friends with him anymore; I'm merely acquaintances with him now."
"She didn't win the competition, but she was merely a few points behind the first-place winner."
"The movie wasn't scary; it was merely a collection of predictable jump scares."
"He didn't apologize sincerely; his words were merely an attempt to save face."
"The task was not difficult; it merely required a bit of attention to detail."

In each of these examples, "merely" is used to emphasize the limited extent, simplicity, or exclusivity of something. It indicates that there is no additional or significant aspect beyond what is stated.