candidly speaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "candidly speaking" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to introduce an opinion which may be blunt or outspoken. For example, "Candidly speaking, I think that policy is misguided."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

At the beginning of Super Bowl week, he spent more than an hour candidly speaking about his problem.

The New York Times - Sports

If Winona Ryder cried, that would be even cooler!" Purser has recently followed the lead of Adele, Lady Gaga and Cara Delevingne in candidly speaking out about mental health.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He was candidly speaking to a group of Kentucky's brightest high school students.

Huffington Post

And Corbyn candidly speaking of reselections and, thus, deselecting his enemies.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

She spent the last year of her life in a nursing home, where she candidly spoke about being near death and then seized the opportunity to make a meaningful life for herself and fellow nursing home residents.

The New York Times

On another occasion, Ron Huberman, AM (SSA) and MBA '00, candidly spoke to the Fellows about his work with the Chicago Public Schools.

University of Chicago

At TechCrunch Shanghai 2016, Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen, who has received significant funding from Thiel, candidly spoke about his discomfort around Thiel's backing of Trump.

TechCrunch

He candidly spoke of race, class, politics, and civil rights.

HuffPost

But he candidly speaks of the need to come to terms with this.

Los Angeles Times

"A meetup event should be closed [to] press so everyone feels comfortable to candidly speak about the issues," it says.

Huffington Post

He candidly spoke about the challenges that arise trying to balance engaged parenting with being the leader of a nation.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "candidly speaking" to introduce a viewpoint that might be perceived as blunt or unconventional. It prepares the audience for a direct statement.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences or paragraphs with "candidly speaking", as it can make your writing sound repetitive and insincere. Instead, vary your sentence structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "candidly speaking" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the sentence by indicating the manner in which the speaker is communicating. It signals that the speaker intends to be direct and honest, potentially revealing a viewpoint that may be considered blunt or controversial, as highlighted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "candidly speaking" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to introduce a direct and honest opinion. Ludwig AI affirms its validity, yet it's relatively rare in occurrence. It's best suited for neutral contexts like news and media where a touch of directness is appropriate. Remember to avoid overuse and consider alternative phrases like "honestly speaking" or "frankly speaking" to maintain variety in your writing. While generally acceptable, be mindful of highly formal settings where a more neutral tone may be preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

honestly speaking

Directly replaces "candidly" with "honestly", maintaining the same meaning.

frankly speaking

Substitutes "candidly" with "frankly", implying a straightforward and open manner of speaking.

to be frank

Rephrases the sentiment using a more concise and common expression.

to be honest

Similar to "to be frank", offering a slightly less formal tone.

in all candor

Uses a more formal and emphatic expression of candidness.

in truth

Shifts the focus to the truthfulness of the statement.

in reality

Highlights the factual basis of the statement.

putting it simply

Emphasizes the directness and lack of embellishment in the statement.

to put it plainly

Similar to "putting it simply", but with a slightly stronger emphasis on clarity.

in my opinion

Frames the statement as a personal belief or judgment, often implying a degree of subjectivity.

FAQs

How can I use "candidly speaking" in a sentence?

You can use "candidly speaking" to preface a direct or potentially controversial statement. For example, "Candidly speaking, I don't think that's a viable solution."

What's a less formal alternative to "candidly speaking"?

Alternatives like "honestly speaking" or "frankly speaking" offer similar levels of directness but may be perceived as slightly less formal. For an even less formal option, consider using "to be honest".

Is "candidly speaking" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "candidly speaking" can sometimes come across as too informal for highly formal contexts. Consider using more neutral phrasing or directly stating your opinion without the introductory phrase. Other alternatives in formal contexts might be "in all candor".

What is the difference between "candidly speaking" and "openly speaking"?

"Candidly speaking" implies honesty and directness, potentially involving sensitive topics. In contrast, "openly speaking" simply means expressing oneself without reservation, without necessarily implying the same level of bluntness.