as smoothly as

USAGE SUMMARY

"as smoothly as" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe how something is done. For example, "She sang the song as smoothly as if she were a professional singer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fourteen months later, nothing has worked as smoothly, as quickly or as profitably as planned.

Forbes

Preparations have been proceeding as smoothly as you could expect.

University of California, Berkeley

FEW Arab towns collect rubbish as smoothly as Bethlehem.

The Economist

But all was not to go as smoothly as planned.

The New Yorker

It doesn't go as smoothly as I hope.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The SC 430 responds as smoothly as a bowed violin.

The New York Times

This is not going as smoothly as it could do.

The Guardian

"We want the count to go as smoothly as possible".

The New York Times

But things don't always go as smoothly as they should.

The New York Times

The preceptorial banter flows as smoothly as ever.

The Guardian

The CXC is committed to helping Sherpa users transition to new syntax as smoothly as possible.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as smoothly as" to compare the manner of two actions or processes, emphasizing a similar level of ease or efficiency. For example, "The negotiation proceeded "as smoothly as" we had hoped."

Common error

Avoid using "as smoothly as" when you're not making a direct comparison. For example, instead of saying "The process was "as smoothly as" possible", specify what it was comparable to or simply say "The process was as smooth as possible."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as smoothly as" functions as an adverbial phrase of comparison, modifying a verb or clause to describe the manner in which an action is performed. It is used to indicate that something is done with a similar level of ease, efficiency, or lack of difficulty compared to something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

15%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "as smoothly as" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used for making comparisons related to ease and efficiency. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and its presence across varied sources from news outlets such as The New York Times to academic papers demonstrates its versatility. When using "as smoothly as", ensure you're drawing a clear comparison to avoid misinterpretations. For variety, consider alternatives like "as effortlessly as" or "as seamlessly as". Use this phrase to emphasize the manner in which something is achieved, highlighting a similar level of ease across different actions or procedures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as effortlessly as

Emphasizes the lack of effort involved.

as seamlessly as

Highlights the continuity and lack of disruption.

as easily as

Focuses on the simplicity and lack of difficulty.

with the same ease as

Uses a prepositional phrase structure for a slightly more formal tone.

as efficiently as

Highlights the effectiveness and lack of wasted resources.

as fluidly as

Emphasizes the graceful and unbroken manner of movement or progress.

as painlessly as

Focuses on the absence of discomfort or trouble.

as successfully as

Highlights a positive outcome or achievement.

without a hitch

Uses an idiomatic expression to emphasize the lack of problems.

without difficulty

Directly states the absence of problems or challenges.

FAQs

How can I use "as smoothly as" in a sentence?

Use "as smoothly as" to compare how easily or efficiently something is done in relation to something else. For example, "The new software runs "as smoothly as" the old one".

What are some alternatives to "as smoothly as"?

You can use alternatives like "as effortlessly as", "as seamlessly as", or "as easily as" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "as smooth as possible" instead of "as smoothly as possible"?

While "as smooth as possible" focuses on the result (the level of smoothness), ""as smoothly as" possible" emphasizes the manner in which something is done to achieve that result. The choice depends on the intended focus.

When is it inappropriate to use "as smoothly as"?

Avoid using ""as smoothly as"" when there's no clear comparison being made or when the focus is solely on the state of being smooth, rather than the process of achieving smoothness.