Question:medium

The part of the sentence underlined below may contain an error. Choose the option that replaces the underlined part with the grammatically correct choice.

He is nothing else than a dishonest fellow.

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There is a two-word idiom meaning 'only' or 'merely' that fits neatly before 'a dishonest fellow'.
Updated On: Jul 21, 2026
  • nothing else lest a dishonest
  • nothing else than a dishonest
  • nothing else except a dishonest
  • nothing but dishonest
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

To say someone is 'only' something, English uses 'nothing but'. The other phrasings twist the idiom or add words that do not belong.

  • nothing but dishonest is correct because 'nothing but' is the standard way to express 'merely', producing 'nothing but a dishonest fellow'.
  • nothing else lest a dishonest misuses 'lest', which signals fear or precaution.
  • nothing else than a dishonest is an unidiomatic, stiff construction.
  • nothing else except a dishonest piles up 'else' and 'except' needlessly.

So 'nothing but' is the fix.

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