I exactly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I exactly" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "exactly" should follow the verb or be used in a different structure. Example: "I know exactly what you mean."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

When f = 0, P i achieved the optimal solution, i.e., P i exactly located in the position of target.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

If the considered clustering algorithm would work perfectly, then for each discovered cluster j, it would exist a real cluster i exactly coinciding with j.

EPJ Data Science

Since when the critical points will appear in the future is unknown, it requires that the sampling frequency should be infinite to obtain all the critical points of S i exactly, which is almost impossible.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Constraints (1b) and (1c) mean that if team k visits spot i, then team k must move to spot i from another exactly once, and must move somewhere from spot i exactly once.

Pacific Journal of Mathematics for Industry

If the object undergoes a change, then is (i) exactly one member of the pair of contrary properties among that bundle, (ii) both properties, or is the bundle (iii) incomplete, containing neither of the pair?

SEP

The tree likelihood L is calculated from the conditional likelihoods L i (n ), that is, the likelihood of all evolutionary histories conditional on the assumption that at node i exactly n binding sites are present.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

The Government Shutdown Is Exactly Like Mean Girls.

Huffington Post

Going all out: Is exactly what it comes down to.

WikiHow

Is it exactly the same.

The New Yorker

"Is it exactly what we want?

The New York Times

I knew exactly who I was.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for correctness, avoid using "I exactly". Instead, structure your sentence to place "exactly" after the verb, such as "I know exactly what you mean".

Common error

A common error is placing "exactly" directly after "I". Ensure "exactly" follows the verb to maintain grammatical accuracy. For example, prefer "I understand exactly" over "I exactly understand".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I exactly" functions as an incorrect attempt to modify a verb with an adverb. Ludwig AI indicates that this word order violates standard English grammar. Although examples exist, their limited frequency and source context suggest non-standard usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I exactly" is grammatically incorrect in standard English, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. While it appears in some sources, primarily within news media and informal contexts, it's best avoided in formal writing. The intended meaning, which is to emphasize precision, is better conveyed by restructuring the sentence to place "exactly" after the verb. Consider using alternatives like "I precisely", "I specifically", or "I accurately" for enhanced clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I precisely

Replaces "exactly" with "precisely", offering a more formal and emphatic tone.

I specifically

Replaces "exactly" with "specifically", focusing on particularity and detail.

I accurately

Uses "accurately" instead of "exactly", emphasizing correctness and truthfulness.

I absolutely

Emphasizes certainty using "absolutely" instead of "exactly".

I completely

Replaces "exactly" with "completely", highlighting thoroughness and comprehensiveness.

I definitely

Uses "definitely" to convey certainty, a more informal alternative.

I fully

Emphasizes completeness with "fully", replacing "exactly".

I clearly

Uses "clearly" to emphasize clarity and understanding, differing slightly in focus.

I certainly

Similar to "definitely", but slightly more formal, expressing certainty.

I literally

While often misused, "literally" emphasizes that something is not figurative, differing significantly from "exactly".

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "I exactly"?

To correct "I exactly", reposition "exactly" after the verb. For example, instead of "I exactly know", say "I know "I know exactly"".

What are some alternatives to "I exactly" that maintain a similar meaning?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "I precisely", "I specifically", or "I accurately" as alternatives.

Why is "I exactly" considered grammatically incorrect?

In standard English grammar, adverbs like "exactly" typically follow the verb they modify. Therefore, placing "exactly" directly after "I" disrupts the correct word order.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "I exactly"?

You might encounter "I exactly" in informal speech or unedited writing, but it's generally best to avoid it in formal or academic contexts.