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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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best definitely

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "best definitely" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to emphasize something as the best, but the combination lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "This is the best definitely option for our project." (This sentence is awkward and unclear.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The best? "Definitely the bakery smells".

News & Media

The New Yorker

But you should really be telling yourself that you will try your best, definitely.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Indeed, at 82, he seemed a bit confused, and his chair metaphor was inappropriate at best, definitely offensive and racist to many, portraying President Obama as both invisible and vulgar.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Now, the best volleyers definitely would come from the past.

News & Media

The New York Times

"The fact the Ashes are gone we've accepted that, the best team definitely won.

"Last year was my best year, definitely my most consistent season," the Portugal wide-man told Inside United.

News & Media

Independent

This sort of kids' fantasy tends to bring out Spielberg's best qualities; definitely one to look forward to.

"I'm nowhere near 100% yet, but I'm slowly but surely feeling stronger by the day and the best is definitely yet to come from me".

News & Media

Independent

But the best was definitely to come in the autumn of his career as Kinane enjoyed that glorious last hurrah with John Oxx's brilliant colt Sea The Stars.

News & Media

Independent

"I think that's our best win definitely of the season - probably of the last couple of years, considering the challenges we had this week".

News & Media

BBC

This is Family Guy at its best, and definitely sets a very high bar for animated comedy".

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the grammatically correct form, "definitely the best", to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid placing "best" before "definitely". The correct structure is to use "definitely" as an adverb modifying "the best".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "best definitely" functions as an attempt to emphasize a superlative. However, it is not grammatically correct and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI highlights, the word order is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "best definitely" aims to emphasize something as superior, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct and more common phrasing is "definitely the best". As Ludwig AI confirms, the usage of "best definitely" is not recommended due to its ungrammatical structure and potential for misinterpretation. For clarity and correctness, it's best to use "definitely the best" or alternative phrases like "certainly the best" or "absolutely the best" depending on the desired level of emphasis and formality.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something is undoubtedly the best?

The correct way is to say "definitely the best". The reverse, "best definitely", is not standard English.

Are there alternatives to "definitely the best"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "certainly the best", "unquestionably the best", or "absolutely the best" for emphasis.

Is "best definitely" ever acceptable in writing?

No, "best definitely" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use "definitely the best" or other similar phrases.

How can I emphasize that something is the best without using "definitely"?

You can use words like "certainly", "absolutely", or rephrase the sentence to emphasize the superlative nature of what you're describing.

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Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: