Words that limit:
* Only: "I only want a cup of coffee." (This limits the desire to coffee, excluding other drinks.)
* Just: "It's just a small problem." (This diminishes the severity of the problem.)
* Merely: "He was merely trying to help." (This suggests the action was insignificant.)
* Solely: "The decision was made solely by the manager." (This emphasizes that only the manager was involved.)
Phrases that limit:
* In particular: "I like many things about this city, in particular the parks." (This highlights specific aspects.)
* Specifically: "We need to address the problem specifically related to safety." (This focuses on a particular aspect of the problem.)
* With regard to: "With regard to your question about the deadline, it's been extended." (This limits the discussion to a specific topic.)
* As far as... is concerned: "As far as I'm concerned, the plan is good." (This limits the statement to the speaker's personal opinion.)
Words and phrases that change meaning:
* Not: "He is not happy." (This completely reverses the meaning of "happy".)
* Instead of: "I'll have tea instead of coffee." (This substitutes one thing for another.)
* Rather than: "I'd like to stay in rather than go out." (This expresses a preference for one option over another.)
* On the other hand: "The weather is good, on the other hand, it's very crowded." (This introduces a contrasting point of view.)
The specific word or phrase that best fits the context depends on the desired nuance and the specific meaning you want to convey.