Proper grammar regarding "write only" or "only write"

Do you say, "Write only the answer" or "Only write the answer"?

Solution 1:

They mean two different things.

"Only write the answer" means write it and do nothing else with it. Depending on the context, this might mean "write it, but don't speak it out loud". Or for example if someone said, "Examine this broken automobile part. How would you fix it? Only write the answer", that would mean, "Write how you would fix it, don't try to actually fix it."

"Write only the answer" means to write the answer and nothing else. This would likely mean that you should not write the question on your paper along with your answer, or not include your name, or whatever other information someone might think of writing in addition to their answer.

Solution 2:

The position of the word "only" greatly changes the meaning of any sentence it is used in. "Only write the answer" in my opinion is also correct, but the meaning is: don't do anything else with the answer, just write it.

Solution 3:

You can say "write the answer only" or "write only the answer". "only" in the beginning isn't correct and can be replaced with "just", but the meaning is slightly different, ie "do this and nothing else". With "only" you restrict the writing part, not the other actions.