Ideally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Ideally" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a desired situation or outcome that is considered perfect or most favorable. Example: "Ideally, we would finish the project by the end of the month to meet our deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Lifestyle

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are 700 in Afghanistan and it is right that on occasions such as the Olympic Games, or in times of national emergency such as flood relief, they provide support, ideally based on their professional skill set.

The Guardian

I want the people fighting the corner for theatre, visual arts, music and museums to have had a taste of the unique thrills and frustrations of the creative sectors, to have witnessed first-hand the extraordinary way the arts affect individuals and communities – and ideally before they take up the brief and attempt to get up to speed (as Jarvis has been doing recently).

The Guardian

A UN or EU route, ideally in co-ordination, should provide for neutral monitors to be sent within 24 hours to guarantee eastern Ukraine's border with Russia.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ideally, they would like to live closer to the Côte d'Azur but it's expensive there.

The Guardian

"We've both said there was a current deficit at the time and ideally that should have been in surplus," she told Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4. Cooper and her husband, Ed Balls, were Treasury ministers at times in the Labour government.

The Guardian

"We would have ideally liked to be able to bid for the west coast sooner".

The Guardian - Business

Though ideally, everyone would have their own individual doctor, who would be with them at all times.

The Guardian - Books

Ideally we would like to stay here but that largely depends on the support that the city council come back with".

The Guardian - Sport

A Green party spokesman told the Guardian the 14-year rule was part of a "long-term vision, we have no plans to implement this in the near future" but added that the 14 years would ideally begin at the date of publication.

The Guardian

Ideally you're new, with the potential to become an overnight sensation; or something familiar already purchased in vast numbers.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I am a very meticulous person and I am ideally suited to software testing," he said.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Ideally" to introduce a vision of how things could or should be when presenting solutions or recommendations. It's effective for setting expectations, provided it's balanced with realistic considerations.

Common error

Avoid presenting scenarios that rely solely on "Ideally" without acknowledging potential challenges or offering fallback plans. It's essential to provide practical options, even if they aren't perfect, to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "Ideally" modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to express a desired or perfect state of affairs. It's used to introduce a situation that is considered the most favorable or optimal. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Lifestyle

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Sport

10%

Opinion

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Ideally" is a versatile adverb used to express a desired or optimal situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its frequent appearance across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Lifestyle, underscores its common usage. While "Ideally" is generally considered correct and appropriate, it is important to balance aspirational scenarios with realistic considerations and alternatives to maintain credibility. Alternatives include "optimally" and "preferably".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Optimally

Indicates the best or most favorable condition, similar to "Ideally" but focusing more on achieving the best possible outcome.

Preferably

Suggests a choice or preference, indicating a favored option or condition over others, close in meaning to "Ideally".

In a perfect world

Expresses a hypothetical situation where everything is as desired, akin to "Ideally" but more explicitly conditional.

Under ideal circumstances

Highlights the conditions necessary for achieving the best outcome, similar to "Ideally" but emphasizing the context.

The best-case scenario

Refers to the most favorable possible outcome, close to "Ideally" but focusing on the result.

All things being equal

Implies a situation where there are no adverse factors, similar to "Ideally" but adding a condition of equivalence.

If everything goes according to plan

Indicates reliance on a plan being successfully executed, similar to "Ideally" but more conditional.

As a matter of preference

Highlights the subjective aspect of the choice, similar to "Ideally" but focusing on personal liking.

In the best of all possible worlds

Expresses a highly optimistic view of a situation, akin to "Ideally" but more philosophical.

By preference

States something is favored; while similar to "Ideally", it's more concise and less emphatic about perfect conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "Ideally" in a sentence?

"Ideally" is used to describe a desired or perfect situation. For example, "Ideally, the project would be completed by next week."

What can I say instead of "Ideally"?

You can use alternatives like "optimally", "preferably", or "in a perfect world" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "Ideally" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "Ideally" when presenting a preferred or optimal scenario, especially when followed by realistic considerations or alternative options.

Is "Ideally" formal or informal?

"Ideally" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though its impact is stronger in more formal settings where a desired outcome is being proposed.