I was just going to say something similar... The root word for merely, mere, means small, or simple. Only denotes singular.
It is slightly more formal to use rather than using only. In some cases it does fit more eloquently into a sentence.
This is why the english language is so hard to learn... too many words meaning almost the same thing while many words have many possible meanings. Trying to describe the differences/similarities between merely and only without using them in the description is really difficult also.
Compared to other languages I know, english is the easiest language to learn. Seriously. But it does depend on what your own first language is. This is a good example.
I wouldn't say English is very hard to learn. Sure, one occasionally comes across questions like this, but that happens in every language. Try learning German, French or Russian - all much harder than English, in my opinion. Also, I'd say I'm pretty damn good at English, even though questions come up. Now, it might be time again for a Which languages do you speak thread.
I only said that because I have heard it said so many times. I only know American English, btw, and was never able to learn any others. I was not implying anything against you, seems to me you already speak it fluently from your posts here.
Merely comes from mere, as in "He is a mere boy." So that we wish to say that he is barely a boy, perhaps just out of babyhood, or a small boy. A pittance. Merely is an adverb used for emphasis. "He is merely a boy." Not something better or more exciting.
Hello, Piaf. I would say "merely" and "only" mean basically the same thing. In some cases (not all) I would add that merely can have a sort of derisive element to it. Example: "He's merely acting like he cares" would mean that not only is he behaving as if he cared, but that he doesn't care even a little bit. Presumably, the speaker thinks that the person they are referring to would be more respectable if "he" did care. Also, and unrelated, how've you been? It's been a long time - I used to be here under a different screen name. This is a new account, too new to PM somebody, I guess. I don't know if you've seen it, but hey: http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=487656&page=2
