as willingly as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as willingly as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the willingness to do two different actions or to express a preference for one action over another. Example: "She would help him as willingly as she would help her own brother."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Hill incorporated ideas from his teammates as willingly as those from people he has never met.

The New York Times - Sports

And an official with Mr. Assad's Ba'ath Party said that not everyone had come as willingly as the soldier's son had.

The New York Times

On the 747, I feel what is described as a float through the controls, a sudden resistance by the airplane to descend as willingly as before.

The New York Times

The rose lends itself to plant breeding as willingly as its cousin, the apple, and gardeners have been trying to find the next perfect rose for centuries.

The Washington Post

Mr. Graham, the former Democratic chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he doubted that Mr. Tenet had departed as willingly as his friends said.

The New York Times

Even when it has promised the PA that it will remove specific checkpoints, in most cases it has not done so.Businessmen are sceptical that Israel will grant visas to Arab visitors again as willingly as it did for the conference.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

He has been known as something of a maverick in Albany -- one who would as willingly attack Democratic governors as he would Republican ones.

The New York Times

Most of Asia is in the midst of a severe credit crunch, as suddenly cautious banks try to get back the money they were lending out so willingly as recently as last year.

The New York Times

As Delany wrote Garrison in 1852, "I am not in favor of caste, nor a separation of the brotherhood of mankind, and would as willingly live among white men as black, if I had an equal possession and enjoyment of privileges".

The New York Times

Wolves and dogs will mate willingly, as will dogs and coyotes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Piers Steel defines procrastination as willingly deferring something even though you expect the delay to make you worse off.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as willingly as" to make a direct comparison between two actions or situations, highlighting a similar level of enthusiasm or readiness. For example, "He embraced the challenge as willingly as he accepted praise."

Common error

Avoid using "as willingly as" when you only want to express willingness without making a comparison. Instead, use "willingly" on its own. For example, don't say "He helped as willingly as", when you simply mean "He helped willingly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as willingly as" functions as an adverbial phrase used for comparison. It modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating the extent to which an action is performed with willingness. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as willingly as" serves to make a direct comparison, indicating that two actions are performed with equal willingness. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is grammatically sound and commonly used in various contexts, particularly in "News & Media". While it is not as frequent as simpler expressions, its specific function in making comparisons adds value to writing. When using "as willingly as", ensure that you are indeed making a comparison and not simply expressing willingness. Consider alternatives like "just as readily as" or "as gladly as" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just as readily as

Replaces "willingly" with "readily", emphasizing promptness and ease.

with equal willingness to

Uses a noun phrase to describe the willingness, altering the sentence structure.

as cheerfully as

Substitutes "willingly" with "cheerfully", indicating a positive attitude in addition to willingness.

as gladly as

Replaces "willingly" with "gladly", suggesting happiness and pleasure in doing something.

with the same enthusiasm as

Emphasizes the level of enthusiasm, making it more emphatic than just willingness.

as agreeably as

Suggests a compliance or agreement in addition to willingness.

as unreservedly as

Highlights the absence of reservations or hesitations.

with as much alacrity as

Uses the word "alacrity" for quick and cheerful readiness, making it more formal.

as obligingly as

Implies a sense of duty or social grace in addition to willingness.

as fain as

Replaces 'willingly' with 'fain', which indicates pleasure and eagerness to something. (Archaic usage)

FAQs

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

Use "as willingly as" to compare two actions or states, showing that someone is just as willing to do one thing as they are to do another. For example: "She accepted the difficult assignment "as willingly as" she accepted easier tasks."

What are some alternatives to "as willingly as"?

You can use alternatives like "just as readily as", "with equal willingness to", or "as gladly as" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "as willingly as"?

Yes, "as willingly as" is a correct and usable phrase. It is used to make a comparison between two things, indicating that they are done with the same level of willingness.

What is the difference between "as willingly as" and "more willingly than"?

"As willingly as" indicates equal willingness, while "more willingly than" suggests a preference or greater enthusiasm for one action over another.