Correctly vs Properly

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Correctly

Top 2,000 (common) A2 adverb

Properly

Top 2,000 (common) B1 adverb

	Correctly	Properly
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/kəˈrektli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kəˈrektli/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈprɒpəli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈprɑːpərli/"]/
Meaning	In the right way; properly.	In a good or correct way.
Example	Have you spelled it correctly?	How much money do we need to do the job properly?
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A2	B1
Part of speech	adverb	adverb
Collocations	answer correctly, spell correctly, perform correctly	do properly, behave properly, work properly, dress properly, function properly
Antonyms	incorrectly, wrongly	improperly, incorrectly
Common mistakes	Often confused with 'correct' which is an adjective., Sometimes misused with gerunds instead of infinitives (e.g. saying 'to do correct' instead of 'to do correctly').	Using 'properly' when 'good' is more fitting., Confusing 'properly' with 'proper', which is an adjective., Incorrect placement in sentences, e.g., 'He speaks properly English.'
Usage notes	Use 'correctly' when you want to emphasize doing something in the right way. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but might sound overly formal in casual conversations.	Use 'properly' to indicate that something is done in a correct manner. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler alternatives like 'well' may suffice.

See it in real clips

If I was informed correctly, the clock is ticking. Is that right, Jimmie ?

Sherlock › S1 E1

quite correctly, I'm afraid.

If I was informed correctly, the clock is ticking. Is that right, Jimmie ?

Sherlock › S1 E1

quite correctly, I'm afraid.

Correctly

Frequently asked questions: Correctly vs Properly

What's the difference between Correctly and Properly?

Correctly: In the right way; properly. Properly: In a good or correct way.

Which is more advanced: Correctly and Properly?

Properly is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Correctly and Properly the same CEFR level?

Correctly: A2, Properly: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Correctly and Properly?

Correctly: adverb, Properly: adverb.

Can you show an example of each?

Correctly: Have you spelled it correctly? Properly: How much money do we need to do the job properly?

Can I use Correctly and Properly interchangeably?

Not always. Correctly and Properly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.