Unfortunately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Unfortunately" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express regret or disappointment about a situation. Example: "Unfortunately, we were unable to meet the deadline due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The great service we have provided should have guaranteed a strong future, but unfortunately our network partners have decided otherwise.

The Guardian - Business

Unfortunately, we couldn't do it.

The Guardian - Sport

"Unfortunately, that did not happen.

The New York Times

She said: "His status as honorary president does not give him the right to hijack the Front National with vulgar provocations seemingly designed to damage me, but that unfortunately hit the whole movement".

The Guardian

Let Nick Clegg be clear: "The Liberal Democrats will add a heart to a Conservative government, and a brain to a Labour one!" Unfortunately, courage for the cowardly lion will be a casualty of any coalition agreement.

The Guardian

Unfortunately, that match also set the tone for a year of bitter controversy.

The Guardian - Sport

Unfortunately that's how many have perceived the religious community to be involved, to advocate for privatizing education and the redirecting of funds through vouchers".

The Guardian

Most students are first-time house hunters and unfortunately there are landlords who will exploit their naivety.

The Guardian

A: The Guardian and Observer receive hundreds of requests each month from students and we unfortunately aren't able to accommodate them all.

The Guardian

Modern cricket and its followers don't seem to have time for such lengthy endeavours unfortunately, but the endlessly churning hamster wheel of the cricket schedule goes on and on.

The Guardian - Sport

Johnson said that the planned Australian consensus centre, which would have been linked to Lomborg's Copenhagen consensus centre, would have done important work, but "unfortunately, that work cannot happen here".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Unfortunately" to introduce a negative consequence or outcome following a statement of expectation or intent. It softens the blow of the bad news.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "Unfortunately". Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms or rephrasing to prevent the text from sounding monotonous.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Unfortunately" is to act as a sentence adverb. It modifies the entire sentence, expressing the speaker or writer's regret, disappointment, or bad luck about the situation. Ludwig AI confirms this adverbial use across its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Sport

10%

Lifestyle

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Unfortunately" is a very common and grammatically correct adverb used to express regret or disappointment. Ludwig AI confirms that it primarily functions as a sentence adverb, softening bad news or conveying unwelcome information, as seen in numerous examples from News & Media, Sport, and Lifestyle contexts. To avoid overuse, consider synonyms such as "regrettably" or "sadly", tailoring the choice to the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Regrettably

Formal synonym expressing sorrow or disappointment; often used in official contexts.

Sadly

Expresses sorrow or unhappiness about a situation; more emotionally charged than "Unfortunately".

Unluckily

Focuses on the lack of good fortune, rather than general disappointment.

It is regrettable that

A more formal and verbose way to express regret about a situation.

It's a pity that

Indicates disappointment or a sense of loss about something.

To my dismay

Emphasizes personal disappointment or shock.

As a matter of sorrow

Formal and emphatic expression of sadness.

By bad luck

Emphasizes the role of chance or misfortune.

By ill luck

More archaic but still conveys misfortune.

Alas

An exclamation of sorrow; literary and somewhat old-fashioned.

FAQs

How can I use "Unfortunately" in a sentence?

"Unfortunately" is typically used at the beginning of a sentence to express regret or disappointment. For example, "Unfortunately, the event was cancelled".

What words are similar to "Unfortunately"?

Synonyms for "Unfortunately" include "regrettably", "sadly", and "unluckily". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "Unfortunately"?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to start a sentence with "Unfortunately". It functions as an adverb, modifying the sentence that follows.

What's the difference between "Unfortunately" and "Sadly"?

"Unfortunately" tends to focus more on the disappointment of a situation, while "sadly" emphasizes the emotional aspect of sorrow or grief. "Unfortunately, we cannot offer you the job" conveys disappointment, whereas "Sadly, many people lost their homes" expresses sorrow.