awfully pretty

USAGE SUMMARY

'awfully pretty' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to emphasize the degree of beauty or impressiveness of something. For example, "I thought the sunset was awfully pretty last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

He's awfully pretty, that's for sure.

The New York Times

(They're also awfully pretty and appealing).

The New York Times - Books

In any case, it is awfully pretty.

The New York Times - Style

I said, "I know I can't, but I'd like to, it looks awfully pretty from up here".

The New Yorker

I guess I was awfully pretty at some point, but funny was always my book".

The New York Times

Mr. Pilati brings a lot of passion to Saint Laurent, as he should, and some of the sheer dresses were awfully pretty.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

And Jindal ganked pretty awfully on the first test of his standing as a reformer.

Huffington Post

Maybe I'm wrong, but she's awfully light-skinned, and looks pretty polished, for the middle-of-nowhere Alaska.

The New York Times

A gargantuan eyeball is awfully confrontational, and that deceptively pretty bird appears threatening in a Hitchcockian way.

Huffington Post

Watching wobbly, giggly friends try to sit down in a chair (and fail) can be pretty hilarious and awfully good entertainment sometimes.

WikiHow

But, either way, you can think Obama's doing pretty well or pretty awfully today, but you have to see that he's just getting started.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awfully pretty" to subtly emphasize the attractiveness of something, suggesting it is more than just averagely pleasing but without being overly effusive.

Common error

Avoid using "awfully" too frequently in your writing, as it can dilute its impact. If everything is "awfully" something, nothing truly stands out. Consider using a variety of intensifiers such as "incredibly", "extremely", or "remarkably" to add nuance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully pretty" functions as an adjectival phrase where "awfully" intensifies the adjective "pretty". It modifies a noun to describe something possessing a high degree of attractiveness. As Ludwig indicates, the expression is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

10%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "awfully pretty" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to emphasize the attractiveness of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, its primary function is to convey admiration, with "awfully" acting as an intensifier. Although it is less formal than some alternatives, its presence in reputable news sources like The New York Times and The Guardian indicates its broad acceptability. While it's a perfectly acceptable phrase, varying your intensifiers can add nuance to your writing. Some alternative expressions can be "incredibly pretty", "very attractive", or "extremely beautiful".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incredibly pretty

Emphasizes the extent of prettiness, using "incredibly" as an intensifier instead of "awfully".

very attractive

Uses a more general term "attractive" instead of the more specific "pretty", broadening the scope slightly.

extremely beautiful

Replaces "pretty" with "beautiful" for a stronger emphasis, and "awfully" with "extremely" for intensity.

strikingly lovely

Employs "strikingly" to highlight the noticeable nature of the loveliness, adding a sense of impact.

exceptionally gorgeous

Substitutes "pretty" with "gorgeous" and "awfully" with "exceptionally", conveying a higher level of admiration.

remarkably good-looking

Uses "good-looking" as a more generic alternative to "pretty", with "remarkably" adding emphasis.

noticeably beautiful

Focuses on the evident and observable beauty, replacing the intensifier "awfully" with "noticeably".

decidedly cute

Changes the focus to "cute" which is a different type of attractiveness, implying an endearing quality.

quite charming

Shifts the focus from physical appearance to overall pleasantness and appeal, using "charming" instead of "pretty".

unusually appealing

Uses a more general term "appealing" instead of the more specific "pretty", and replaces "awfully" with "unusually".

FAQs

What does "awfully pretty" mean?

The phrase "awfully pretty" means something is very attractive or beautiful. The word "awfully" functions as an intensifier, similar to "very" or "extremely", to emphasize the degree of prettiness.

Is it grammatically correct to say "awfully pretty"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Awfully" can be used as an adverb to modify the adjective "pretty", indicating a high degree of attractiveness. Ludwig confirms that the usage is correct.

What are some alternatives to saying "awfully pretty"?

Alternatives include "incredibly pretty", "very attractive", or "extremely beautiful". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts can I use "awfully pretty"?

You can use "awfully pretty" in various contexts, such as describing scenery, objects, or people. However, it might be more suitable for informal or neutral settings rather than highly formal or professional ones. It is commonly found in News & Media.