carelessly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'carelessly' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that is not being done with the necessary attention to detail or caution. For example: "He carelessly threw the ball across the field without looking where it was going."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And then I read "'Gotter bit of money this mornin," explained William carelessly, with the air of a Rothschild," and lost my heart to Crompton's hero for ever.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If the interview has gone well, you will see them tucking into great slabs of fresh cream cake, their coats flung carelessly across the tables, wishing fellow diners good morning and engaging in casual conversation with all and sundry, including the Albanian waiters.

The Guardian

If his words, or those similar comments made by senior Tories Philip Davies or Andrew Selous, were carelessly chosen it is because the speakers don't care about the people they're airily discussing.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He took a life, carelessly and recklessly, and he shouldn't deserve to have his entire life walking around on the street free," Sybrina Fulton, Martin's mother, told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

The Guardian

She said: "This government is carelessly giving away hundreds of millions of pounds' worth of affordable homes urgently needed by Londoners, rather than standing firm on the side of families desperate for affordable housing.

The Guardian

Not far distant in this good-news story lies anger, anger that this mine was known to be dangerous, and had been reopened too hastily and carelessly after the most recent accident there.

The Guardian - Opinion

The conspirators appear to have kept silent about their plans before September 11th, but to have boasted carelessly about their gruesome triumph after the event.Most of the people detained so far are being held on the pretext of "immigration concerns", after initial questioning suggested that they might know something useful.

The Economist

Avowedly anxious that hard-won freedoms should not be carelessly swept away, opposition parties are applying the brakes.The debate about the number of days that suspected plotters may be held before being charged has come to resemble a grim game of bingo.

The Economist

Those rights are cherished, yet dismissed; defended by a dedicated crew of lawyers and the odd politician, but worn carelessly by most and regularly assailed by blundering governments.

The Economist

It is huge, fast-growing in certain forms and little understood a powerful tool for good but, if carelessly managed, potentially explosive.The FSB, which defines shadow banking as lending by institutions other than banks, reckons it accounts for a quarter of the global financial system, with assets of $71 trillion at the beginning of last year, up from $26 trillion a decade earlier.

The Economist

On January 27th, a mountain of heavy munitions, carelessly stored in an army barracks in the middle of a crowded city, exploded.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "carelessly", ensure the context clearly indicates the negative consequences or potential risks associated with the lack of care. This strengthens the impact of your message.

Common error

Avoid using "carelessly" as a blanket term for all types of negligence. Instead, choose more specific adverbs that reflect the precise nature of the lack of care, such as "recklessly" for actions with high risk or "inattentively" for actions lacking focus.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "carelessly" is to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating the manner in which an action is performed. It describes actions done without sufficient attention or caution, as shown by Ludwig in many examples, where it modifies verbs to highlight negligence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "carelessly" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverb that describes actions performed without due attention or caution. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from varied sources, primarily in news and media contexts. It serves to highlight negligence or a lack of concern, and while its register is generally neutral, its impact is to emphasize the negative consequences of insufficient care. When writing, be mindful of the specific type of negligence you wish to convey and consider alternative adverbs to enhance precision and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Negligently

Implies a failure to exercise the expected level of care.

Inattentively

Highlights the lack of attention during the action.

Heedlessly

Focuses on the lack of regard for potential consequences.

In a negligent manner

Replaces the single adverb with a prepositional phrase emphasizing the manner of the action.

Thoughtlessly

Emphasizes the lack of consideration or thinking involved.

Without caution

Directly states the absence of precautionary measures.

Without due care

Emphasizes the absence of appropriate attention or caution.

Slackly

Focuses on the lack of diligence or effort put into the action.

Offhandedly

Highlights the casual and unconcerned manner of the action.

Recklessly

Suggests a higher degree of disregard for danger or consequences.

FAQs

How to use "carelessly" in a sentence?

Use "carelessly" to describe actions performed without due attention or thought. For instance, "He "carelessly discarded" the information" or "She "carelessly left" the door unlocked".

What can I say instead of "carelessly"?

You can use alternatives like "negligently", "inattentively", or "recklessly" depending on the specific context and the degree of negligence you want to convey.

Which is correct, "carelessly" or "care less"?

"Carelessly" is an adverb describing how an action is performed, while "care less" is a verb phrase expressing a lack of concern. For example, "He acted carelessly" versus "I couldn't care less".

What's the difference between "carelessly" and "casually"?

"Carelessly" implies a lack of attention that can lead to negative consequences, while "casually" suggests a relaxed or informal manner without necessarily implying negligence.