Fortunately

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "fortunately" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing a positive outcome to something. For example: "Fortunately, I passed the test."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fortunately, the Bloomberg Foundation agreed to cover the costs of defending Uruguay.

The Guardian

Fortunately, we had a much calmer start to our trip than the Hull honeymooners.

The Guardian - Travel

His Edymandias EdStone moment may have been one of the most ill-conceived political stunts of all time: fortunately the monarchy came to the rescue with the timely arrival of the royal baby to fill the news pages instead.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fortunately, though, there are people among us who do.

The Guardian - Tech

"Fortunately that [decision] hasn't cost us today but it can on other occasions," Sherwood said.

The Guardian - Sport

Fortunately, times have changed and we don't face such organised crimes to that extent now.

The Guardian

Fortunately there is an abundance of talent in the parliamentary party capable of ensuring that if this election has been reminiscent of 1992, the next election will recall the one that followed 1992.

The Guardian - Opinion

Moments later, Bywater appeared to have an easy collect from a Reading corner but the goalkeeper caught only air, and fortunately for him and his side, the ball slipped away to safety.

The Guardian - Sport

Fortunately, his study "is in a different league".

The Guardian - Books

On the Bure, fortunately, TheCanoeMan has worked with enlightened private landowners willing to provide crucial access to the river bank where "portage" – dragging your canoe over a field to avoid a weir or watermill, for instance – is required.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Fortunately, that is Brown's natural political home.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fortunately" to introduce a positive consequence, creating a sense of relief or gratitude in your writing.

Common error

Avoid overusing "fortunately" to the point where it sounds insincere or diminishes the impact of genuine good fortune. Use it judiciously for maximum effect.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fortunately" is to act as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb to express that something happened in a fortunate or lucky manner. It often introduces a statement that contrasts with a potential negative outcome, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fortunately" serves as an adverb used to express a sense of relief or good luck regarding a particular event. Ludwig's analysis and examples confirm its correct usage and wide applicability. It's grammatically sound and appears frequently in diverse contexts, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. While generally neutral, it's important to avoid overuse to maintain its impact. Consider alternatives such as "thankfully" or "luckily" for variety. Ludwig AI also states that "fortunately" is correct and can be used in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Luckily

A direct synonym, implying the outcome was due to luck or good fortune.

Thankfully

Indicates gratitude for the positive outcome.

As luck would have it

A more emphatic way of saying something happened due to good luck.

By a stroke of luck

Emphasizes the unexpected and coincidental nature of the fortunate event.

By good fortune

Highlights that the positive outcome was because of good luck.

It was a blessing that

Highlights the positive outcome as a blessing.

Happily

Emphasizes the joyful aspect of the positive outcome.

Mercifully

Suggests that a negative outcome was avoided due to mercy or compassion.

Auspiciously

Highlights that the outcome was favored by good omens or circumstances.

Providentially

Suggests a divine intervention or guiding hand in the positive outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "fortunately" in a sentence?

You can use "fortunately" to express that something positive happened, often after a potentially negative situation. For example, "The weather was terrible, but "fortunately", we had packed umbrellas".

What can I say instead of "fortunately"?

You can use alternatives like "thankfully", "luckily", or "happily" depending on the context.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "fortunately"?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to start a sentence with "fortunately" to emphasize the positive outcome from the beginning.

What's the difference between "fortunately" and "unfortunately"?

"Fortunately" indicates a positive outcome, while "unfortunately" indicates a negative outcome. They are direct antonyms.