A2adverb2K

Correctly

UK /["/kəˈrektli/"]/US /["/kəˈrektli/"]/

Definition

in a way that is accurate or true, without any mistakes

In simple words: In the right way; properly.

Examples

  • Have you spelled it correctly?
  • Students **correctly identified** 16 trees species found on their study sites.
  • If I **remember correctly**, he was still the prime minister at that point.
  • They reasoned, correctly, that she was away for the weekend.
  • When correctly applied, fake tan is difficult to tell from the real thing.
  • He was looking correctly grave.

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.

Grammar pattern

correctly + verb

Memory hint

Think of 'correct' and add '-ly' like in 'happy' becomes 'happily'.

Collocations

  • answer correctly
  • spell correctly
  • perform correctly

Synonyms

  • accurately
  • rightly
  • properly
  • precisely

Antonyms

  • incorrectly
  • wrongly

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').