Some example case/ contexts for helping to clarify the point– my specific question:
A.When a range of reasons exist, use “if only because” to draw attention to a minor reason. Compare 1) Praise her because she does excellent work; 2) Praise her if only because she comes to class on time everyday.
B. This meeting was necessary if only for an exchange of views.
I am wondering whether or not there is any difference between the sentences below, or even they are correct sentences.
G.This meeting was necessary if only for an exchange of views.
H.This meeting was necessary if only because of an exchange of views.
I.This meeting was necessary because of an exchange of views.
J.This meeting was necessary if only because an exchange of views.
Any comment would be greatly appreciated
Best Answer
This means that the meeting was necessary, but perhaps the only reason it was necessary was that it enabled an exchange of views.
This is less clear. It suggests the meeting was necessary, but only because of an exchange of views which already took place (or somehow caused the meeting to be necessary). That is, the exchange is causing the meeting, rather than the meeting allowing the exchange. However, in context it could easily be understood to mean the same as sentence G, i.e. the meeting was necessary to allow the exchange of views to happen.
This has the same meaning as the above sentence (H) except it doesn't emphasise that the exchange was the only reason for the meeting.
This sentence is not grammatical. You need to say "If only because of an exchange..." or "if only because an exchange of views took place" or "if only because an exchange of views needed to take place" or something else. It needs an extra clause to make sense.