Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
experimentally
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The word "experimentally" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a process that was done through experimentation or tests. For example: "The scientists tested the new medicine experimentally before administering it to any patients."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Encyclopedias
Alternative expressions(20)
empirically
tentatively
practically
through experimentation
in a laboratory setting
by trial and error
demonstrably
provisionally
without commitment
without obligation
with no strings attached
without liability
unconditionally
casually
without dedication
free from constraints
on a trial basis
theoretically
evidence-based
data-driven
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
The thing is, you don't notice this when you experimentally dangle the bag, stuffed with tissue paper, over your shoulder in a shop.
News & Media
When, experimentally, I dropped a piece of popcorn in his lap, it went right through, and he reached through his own transparent groin to get it, but no luck, as the popcorn had physical substance and Mr Tough Guy didn't.
News & Media
Elsewhere, it would be great to see an Oscar for best adapted screenplay go to Paul Thomas Anderson's almost experimentally delirious version of Thomas Pynchon's Inherent Vice — what a wonderful film — and the best foreign language Oscar to Andrey Zvyagintsev's Leviathan or Paweł Pawlikowski's Ida.
News & Media
A frosted glass disc, set into the roof of an igloo-like space, like a porthole onto the universe, offers the spectacle of a wormlike white light, again created by preprogrammed LEDs, moving experimentally across the surface".Transcircle 1.1" (2004) is supposed to represent a sacred circle of nine totemic objects, like an acrylic Avebury.
News & Media
Rats in a similar, experimentally induced, situation suffered 50% less tissue damage with the anti-C5 antibody than without it.
News & Media
But, oddly, it was never followed up experimentally in the wild, to understand the nuances of the process.That has just changed, with the publication in Nature of an experiment which Lucy Aplin of Oxford University conducted in nearby Wytham Wood probably the most intensively studied habitat on the planet.
News & Media
Furthermore, he notes that, when freshwater flows through the Everglades were increased experimentally in the 1990s, it led to massive plankton blooms.
News & Media
Yet, oddly, hardly anyone is using them in this way.Hewlett-Packard and Intel pioneered the corporate use of prediction markets, but neither seems to be using them other than experimentally.
News & Media
Though these "virtual" particles have such a transient existence, their effects can be detected experimentally, so there is no doubt that they exist.
News & Media
And the more desirable (and therefore the more courted) a male is himself, the choosier he can afford to be.Sarah Kraak, who also works at Berne, set out to prove this point experimentally.
News & Media
Unlike those, it makes predictions which can be tested experimentally, not now but perhaps in the near future for instance through detailed analysis of the CMB.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using the word in a non-scientific context, ensure it implies a sense of trying something new or testing a theory, like 'The company "experimentally" introduced a four-day workweek.'
Common error
Do not confuse "experimentally" (related to scientific experiments) with "experientially" (related to personal experience). While they sound similar, they serve very different purposes in analytical writing.
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
4.9/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The word "experimentally" functions primarily as an adverb of manner. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it modifies verbs to indicate that an action is being performed for the purpose of investigation, trial or verification. It can also function as a sentence adverb to qualify the entire scope of a claim as being grounded in experimental data rather than theoretical speculation.
Frequent in
Science
48%
Encyclopedias
42%
News & Media
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
5%
Social Media
2%
Reference
1%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The adverb "experimentally" is a robust and essential term for writers in the sciences, philosophy and high-end journalism. Based on the data from Ludwig, it is most frequently used to verify that a phenomenon has been tested through rigorous methods rather than just observed or theorized. While it is Very common in academic literature, its use in lifestyle or general news (like dangling a bag "experimentally") demonstrates its flexibility in describing any trial-based action. Writers should prioritize this word when they need to convey scientific authority or methodological precision, taking care not to confuse it with more general terms like "practically".
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
through experimentation
A more descriptive prepositional phrase that emphasizes the process over the manner
empirically
Focuses on observation and experience rather than just the act of performing a controlled experiment
as a pilot study
Specific to a preliminary trial or project designed to test feasibility
in a laboratory setting
Specifies the physical environment where the testing occurs
testably
Emphasizes the capability of being checked or verified by an experiment
by trial and error
More informal and suggests a less structured or rigorous process of testing
demonstrably
Focuses on the result of being able to prove something rather than the method of testing it
tentatively
Highlights the uncertain or cautious nature of the action rather than the scientific method
provisionally
Suggests something is done temporarily or subject to future change based on results
practically
Shifts focus to real-world application rather than the investigative nature of an experiment
FAQs
How do I use "experimentally" in a sentence?
You can use it to modify a verb to show that an action is part of a test. For example: "The new software was deployed "experimentally" in three departments."
What is the difference between "experimentally" and "empirically"?
While often used interchangeably, "experimentally" implies the use of a controlled test or experiment, whereas "empirically" refers to any knowledge gained through observation or data collection.
Can I use "tentatively" instead of "experimentally"?
Only if you want to emphasize hesitation. If you mean something is being done as a formal test, stick with "experimentally"; if it is just a non-committal first step, use "tentatively".
Is "experimentally" suitable for academic papers?
Yes, it is a standard term in scientific and philosophical discourse to denote that findings are based on active testing rather than pure theory.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
4.9/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested