Not honestly

USAGE SUMMARY

"not honestly" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express doubt about the truth of a statement or action. For example, "I told the police I had nothing to do with the robbery, but they didn't believe me, not honestly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Not honestly dealing with our mistakes will ruin our desire to produce an excellent educational experience for our students.

Huffington Post

Not honestly assessing a situation and handling it appropriately leads to constant low-grade anxiety, which, as we know from all the research on the effects of stress, can result in sleeping problems, being short-tempered, and feeling overwhelmed by once "easy" situations.

Huffington Post

"You're not honestly putting yourself in that middle category?" "Oh sure, why not?" Zell replied.

The New Yorker

They are not honestly scandalous with the awful dirty pornographic glee of the Italians.

The Economist

"You're not honestly asking that question, are you?" he says, snorting.

The Guardian - Music

Despite having a fancy tourist brochure, the oak woods of Loch A'Mhuilinn are not honestly approachable.

The Guardian - Travel

I'd hate to learn people are just making something that they're not honestly passionate.

The Guardian - Tech

With all its money and intelligence, the United States could not honestly believe I was Al Qaeda, could they?

The New York Times

When asked, "Do you have any fiscal recommendations for Europe?" Cain responded, "No, I do not, honestly".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I'm not - honestly, I mean, fair dos.

The Guardian

But Stewart says not. "Honestly, it was a combination of the limitations of my brain and a format that is geared towards following an increasingly redundant process, which is our political process.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a more formal or nuanced tone, consider alternatives such as "not truthfully" or "not sincerely".

Common error

While "not honestly" is widely understood, in highly formal writing, opting for alternatives like "dishonestly" or "insincerely" can enhance the sophistication and precision of your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not honestly" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to express the manner in which an action is (or is not) performed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it conveys a lack of truthfulness or sincerity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "not honestly" serves to express a lack of truthfulness or sincerity, often conveying doubt or disbelief. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. While versatile, it's particularly prevalent in news and media contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider "not truthfully" or "insincerely", adapting your choice to the desired level of formality. Remember, while widely accepted, more formal options might enhance sophistication in certain writing scenarios. Ultimately, understanding the subtle implications of "not honestly" enables more precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not genuinely

Replaces "honestly" with "genuinely", emphasizing a lack of authenticity.

not truthfully

Substitutes "honestly" with "truthfully", highlighting a deviation from the truth.

not sincerely

Replaces "honestly" with "sincerely", focusing on a lack of heartfelt intention.

not frankly

Substitutes "honestly" with "frankly", highlighting a lack of openness or candor.

not candidly

Replaces "honestly" with "candidly", suggesting a lack of straightforwardness.

not openly

Replaces "honestly" with "openly", focusing on a lack of transparency.

not fairly

Substitutes "honestly" with "fairly", indicating a lack of impartiality or justice.

not legitimately

Replaces "honestly" with "legitimately", focusing on a lack of lawful or rightful action.

not in good faith

This phrase indicates a lack of sincerity and genuine intention.

with deception

Uses a prepositional phrase to directly state the presence of deceit.

FAQs

What does "not honestly" mean?

The phrase "not honestly" indicates a lack of truthfulness or sincerity. It suggests that someone is being deceptive or insincere in their words or actions.

How can I use "not honestly" in a sentence?

You can use "not honestly" to express doubt or disbelief about something someone said or did. For example, "I believe he said he was sorry, but I don't think he meant it "not honestly"."

What are some alternatives to "not honestly"?

Some alternatives to "not honestly" include "dishonestly", "insincerely", "not truthfully", or "not genuinely". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to use "dishonestly" or "not honestly"?

Both "dishonestly" and "not honestly" can be used to convey a lack of truthfulness. "Dishonestly" is a single word and can sound more direct. "Not honestly" can sometimes soften the statement, expressing doubt rather than a definitive accusation. The choice depends on the desired tone and emphasis.