Right

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "Right" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to affirm or agree with a statement or to seek confirmation. Example: "You think we should leave now, right?" Alternative expressions include "Isn't that so," "Correct," and "True."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Quite right.

The New York Times - Sports

But is this right?

The New York Times

They may be right.

The New York Times

She is right.

The New York Times

As an environmentalist, and someone who believes that everyone in this world has a right to a healthy and nutritious diet of their choosing, I could not have chosen a more counter-productive path.

The New York Times

He is right.

The New York Times

They are right.

The New York Times

They were probably right).

The New York Times - Sports

I'm trying to do the right thing".

The New York Times

"There will be some circumstances in which it's right for public bodies, for example at the border, at airport security, to say there is a practical necessity for asking somebody to remove a veil.

The Guardian

Are they right?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using it as an intensifier (e.g. "right in the middle"), ensure it adds necessary emphasis rather than just filler

Common error

Do not confuse the adverbial use of "right" meaning immediately (as in "I'll be right back") with "rightly" which means in a correct or justified manner. Writing "He was right accused" instead of "He was rightly accused" changes the meaning significantly

Linguistic Context

The word "right" is a highly versatile polysemous term that functions as an adjective, adverb, noun and interjection. In the data provided by Ludwig, it frequently appears as an adjective to affirm a statement ("She is right") or as a noun indicating a moral or legal entitlement ("the right to protest"). Ludwig AI also showcases its adverbial use to indicate immediacy or exactness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "right" is one of the most flexible and frequently utilized words in the English language. Ludwig AI demonstrates that it is equally effective at defining legal entitlements, confirming factual truth and providing spatial emphasis. While its simplicity makes it accessible for daily conversation, its precision as a noun remains critical for formal legal and social discourse. Writers should be mindful of its different roles to ensure clarity, particularly when distinguishing between its use as a direction, a claim or a simple affirmation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Correct

More formal when used to describe accuracy or factual truth

True

Simple alternative for expressing factual agreement

Accurate

Focuses specifically on the precision of information or data

Precisely

Offers a more emphatic way to describe exact location or timing

Properly

Replaces the adverbial use of right when describing the correct manner of an action

Immediately

Provides a more precise adverbial alternative for right when indicating time

Justified

Strengthens the moral or ethical connotation of being right

Appropriate

Used when the sense of right refers to being suitable for a purpose

Entitlement

Serves as a formal noun alternative when discussing legal or moral claims

All right

Used when describing a state of being satisfactory or acceptable

FAQs

Is it better to use "right" or "correct"?

While both are often interchangeable, "correct" is usually preferred in formal or academic contexts to describe factual accuracy.

What is the difference between "right" and "all right"?

The word "right" often implies correctness or a side of a body, whereas "all right" typically means acceptable, safe or satisfactory.

Can I use "right away" in formal writing?

In formal business correspondence, using "immediately" or "promptly" is often more professional than the phrase "right away".

Does "right" always mean the opposite of left?

No, it can also mean correct, a moral claim, or an intensifier. If you mean the direction, using "right-hand side" can sometimes reduce ambiguity.