ably

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "ably" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adverb that means "in an able manner," and it can be used to describe how someone does something. For example: She was able to complete the difficult task ably.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On the rare occasions he found himself at the baseline he coped ably with Gambill's unorthodox but fiercely struck ground strokes.

The Guardian - Sport

Ably served by the likes of Jarrod Croker, Josh McCrone, Jack Wighton, and youngster Mitch Cornish making a nice cameo at the death, the Raiders are winners once more, and Canberra is a curious shade of green again.

The Guardian - Sport

The new opportunities are ably demonstrated by the advent of connected TVs, where extra content can be offered and certain channels can now be viewed outside normal broadcast hours.

The Guardian

Even within a single generation the debate about what it means to be a black artist can be fierce.The battle between those advocating assimilation to mainstream culture and those promoting an art of ethnic identity became particularly heated in the early decades of the 20th century, and was waged most ably by two leading intellectuals of the Harlem Renaissance.

The Economist

Letters are welcome via e-mail to [email protected]'s challenges remainSIR – Your special report on America's competitiveness (March 16th) ably addressed the country's immense strengths but overlooked the elephant in the room: the health-care system.

The Economist

Ms Heimann ably highlights the holes and contradictions in Czechoslovak history.

The Economist

But it has governed ably and shown every sign of abiding by the rules of democracy.

The Economist

Ably supported by the dogged Mr Smith, he hit three consecutive leg-side boundaries to the crowd in the grandstand.

The Economist

One little fellow ably explains what the word "regret" means.

The Economist

These emerged from his precocious career in Argentina, which included setting up the country's statistics office and central bank, as Edgar Dosman, a Canadian academic, ably describes.

The Economist

Though he navigated ably through the turbulence of the global financial crisis (Israel barely suffered a recession), growth has been accompanied by high levels of inequality, for which Mr Netanyahu, a free marketeer, is often blamed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ably" to emphasize not just that a task was completed, but that it was done with a high degree of skill and competence. For instance, "She ably defended her client" highlights her skillful defense.

Common error

Avoid using "able" when you specifically want to highlight the skillful manner in which something was done. "Able" simply indicates capability, whereas "ably" indicates skillful execution. Instead of saying "She was able to manage the team", say "She ably managed the team" to emphasize her competence.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "ably" functions primarily as a modifier of verbs, indicating the manner in which an action is performed. It emphasizes the skill, competence, or effectiveness with which something is done. As Ludwig AI confirms, it highlights an action done in an able manner.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ably" is an adverb that conveys the skillful and competent manner in which an action is performed. It is grammatically correct and commonly used in formal writing and professional settings, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While alternatives like "competently" and "capably" exist, "ably" specifically emphasizes expertise or dexterity. When using "ably", make sure to modify a verb to stress the quality of the action rather than using "able" to indicate mere capability. With its frequency in sources like The Economist and Encyclopedia Britannica, "ably" is a valuable addition to enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

competently

Focuses more on meeting required standards or possessing necessary skills.

capably

Highlights the inherent ability to perform a task effectively.

skillfully

Emphasizes expertise and dexterity in execution.

proficiently

Suggests a high degree of skill and experience.

adeptly

Highlights a natural talent or knack for something.

effectively

Focuses on achieving the desired result or outcome.

efficiently

Emphasizes speed and economy of effort.

expertly

Implies a very high level of skill and knowledge.

deftly

Suggests grace and precision in performing a task.

adroitly

Highlights cleverness and resourcefulness in execution.

FAQs

How can I use "ably" in a sentence?

"Ably" is used to describe how an action is performed, emphasizing skill and competence. For example, "The lawyer "ably defended" her client" or "The team "ably managed" the project".

What words can I use instead of "ably"?

You can use alternatives such as "competently", "capably", or "skillfully" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "He is ably to lead the team"?

No, the correct phrasing is "He ably led the team" or "He is able to lead the team". "Ably" is an adverb and modifies a verb, not an adjective, so it cannot be placed between "is" and "to lead".

What is the difference between "able" and "ably"?

"Able" is an adjective meaning having the power or skill to do something, whereas "ably" is an adverb meaning in a skillful or competent manner. For example, "She is able to sing" (she has the capacity) versus "She sang the song "ably"" (she sang it with skill).