exactly as well

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exactly as well" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It can be used when trying to emphasize that something is done in a precise manner that is equally effective or satisfactory, but it is better to rephrase for clarity. Example: "She performed the task exactly as well as her colleague did."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

That trade worked exactly as well as you would expect.

The New York Times - Sports

Before we get too condescending about their efforts, we should note that our boys' attempt to reach the red planet worked exactly as well as Britain's more formal multi-million pound attempt, Beagle 2 – in other words, not at all.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The conditions, at times, are little short of torture: There was no heat upon the killing-beds; the men might exactly as well have worked out of doors all winter.

The New Yorker

To Marianne Moore: Hotel Venecia, Seville April 6, 1936 All the houses and city walls in Marrakech are covered with storks' nests — they are very "familial," as a French lady said to me, and wander around with six-foot sticks in their beaks building their houses exactly as well as the natives.

The New Yorker

I have always had faith that the best writers will rise to the top, like cream, sooner or later, and will become exactly as well known as they should be — their work talked about, quoted, taught, performed, filmed, set to music, anthologized.

The New Yorker

The moments in which a highly trained chimp is alone on screen, handling the test-tubes with quite as much dexterity as any actor, are at once disorientating and weirdly scary: here it is, a chimpanzee, doing exactly as well as any actor.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The gulag does not exactly soften him, perhaps just as well because Lev is committed to pacifism and needs a violent brother to look out for him.

The Guardian - Books

She's a typical mother: 'Be careful!' " Still, her job as a keeper of wild animals is not exactly as innocuous as, well, herding cats.

The New York Times

What exercises him more about the advancing years – and he is not exactly unrecognised: as well as winning the Miles Franklin award twice, he also has five international awards on top of the Booker – is "all the books that will go unwritten".

The Guardian

"When you're succeeding at not multitasking — that is, when you're doing a 'good job '— that's not exactly positive as well," he said.

Huffington Post

I don't know why, exactly, Eletrobras as well as other sponsors Petrobras, the Brazilian state oil company, and Banco do Brasil would be interested in funding a press junket to South America, though perhaps the companies believed they would benefit, in a general kind of way, from media coverage of the election.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, consider rephrasing "exactly as well" with alternatives like "just as effectively" or "equally well". This can make your writing sound more polished and less awkward.

Common error

While grammatically sound, frequent use of "exactly as well" can make your writing seem repetitive. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "just as effectively" or "equally competently" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exactly as well" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the manner in which an action is performed or a state is achieved. It emphasizes a high degree of similarity or equivalence in performance or quality.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "exactly as well" serves as an adverbial modifier to emphasize precise equivalence in performance or quality. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig suggests it's not always the most elegant choice, often replaceable with alternatives such as "just as effectively" or "equally well" for improved clarity. Its usage spans across news, scientific writing, and general contexts, though is best to be replaced in favor of other alternatives according to the context. Despite not being as commonly used, understanding its function and purpose is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just as effectively

Replaces "well" with "effectively", focusing on the effectiveness of the action.

equally effectively

Similar to "just as effectively", but using "equally" to show the equivalence in effectiveness.

just as good

Uses a more general term, "good", instead of "well", making it suitable for broader contexts.

as competently

Focuses on the competence involved in performing the action.

as skillfully

Highlights the skill required to perform the action.

to the same standard

Emphasizes that the standard or level achieved is the same.

on par with

A more colloquial way of saying that something is at the same level.

performs identically

Focuses on the identical performance of the actions.

functions indistinguishably

Highlights that the functions are so similar as to not be distinguished.

as adeptly

Uses the adverb "adeptly" to show the action is performed with expertise.

FAQs

Is "exactly as well" grammatically correct?

Yes, "exactly as well" is grammatically acceptable, but it's not always the most elegant or common choice. Consider alternatives like "just as well" or "equally well" for smoother writing.

What does "exactly as well" mean?

"Exactly as well" means to the same degree or standard of quality, competence, or effectiveness. It emphasizes that something is done to a precise and satisfactory level.

When should I use "exactly as well"?

You can use "exactly as well" when you want to emphasize that something is performed or functions at the same high level as something else. However, consider if phrases like "just as effectively" or "equally good" might be more appropriate.

Are there any alternatives to "exactly as well" that sound more natural?

Yes, more natural-sounding alternatives include "just as effectively", "equally well", "as competently", or "to the same standard", depending on the context.