famously

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'famously' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to describe something that is well known or may have gained recognition in some way. For example,: "Steve Jobs is famously known for being the co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Birdman, arguably, has a solemn dimension to it, but not really The Grand Budapest Hotel, despite being inspired by a writer (Stefan Zweig) who famously committed suicide in despair at the rise of the Nazis.

The Guardian - Film

Russia famously had become a country with which the west felt it could do business.

The Guardian

Even during the tense climax, he keeps things light, combining smiley walkout with stinging kicker: "It's getting a little Diane Sawyer in here," referencing the famously intrusive interviewer.

The Guardian - Opinion

He was an crucial part of any tour, organised, funny, highly hospitable and with an innate ability to get on famously with anyone, anywhere.

The Guardian

Its roots are in the second world war and the mutual loathing of both teams and sets of fans intensified after "The Mother of all Defeats", when the Germans famously triumphed over the Dutch in the 1974 World Cup final.

The Guardian - Sport

Richard Nixon lashed out at reporters during his "last press conference" in 1962, famously proclaiming "you don't have Nixon to kick around any more".

The Guardian

Jürgen Klinsmann famously likes to set his players stiff challenges.

The Guardian - Sport

The two of them had a bond with Pink Floyd that dated back to their early days at Cambridge, where Thorgerson had ended up after an early childhood in Potters Bar, and time spent at the famously utopian Summerhill boarding school in Suffolk.

The Guardian - Music

Paul Polman, chief executive of Unilever, who has joined the B Team, has for several years been critical of the tyranny of quarterly earnings reports and famously said he no longer wanted short term investors to buy shares in the company.

The Guardian

After all, they point out, it's happened before – most famously in Orkney in 1991, when nine children were forcibly removed from their homes following interviews by social workers led by an individual who was subsequently accused of being "fixated on finding satanic abuse".

The Guardian

He worked with the estimated 10,000 volunteers who formed the show's cast – the director famously attending every one of hundreds of hours of rehearsals, in the car park of the abandoned Ford plant in Dagenham, among other places – including a hardcore of serial Olympic ceremony volunteers, people who had taken part in openings in Sydney or Athens.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "famously" to introduce facts or anecdotes that are widely known, but avoid overuse in a single piece of writing. Balance its usage with other adverbs to maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "famously" multiple times in the same paragraph or closely spaced sentences. This can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Instead, vary your language to describe the notability of the subject.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "famously" functions primarily to modify verbs or adjectives, indicating that the action or characteristic being described is widely known or recognized. Ludwig AI confirms this adverbial role, providing examples of usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Film

15%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "famously" is a versatile adverb used to denote widespread recognition or notoriety. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and frequently employed in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral, its connotation can shift depending on the context, sometimes implying positive recognition and others, notoriety. Alternatives such as "notably" or "well-known" may offer more precise shades of meaning. When using "famously", remember to avoid overuse and be mindful of your target audience to ensure its effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

notably

Implies prominence or remarkableness, similar to "famously" but can apply to less widely known instances.

well-known

A more straightforward substitute, indicating that something is widely recognized.

renownedly

Suggests a high degree of fame and respect, potentially exceeding the scope of "famously".

celebratedly

Focuses on positive recognition and acclaim, whereas "famously" can be neutral or negative.

infamously

Indicates notoriety or ill-fame, offering an opposite connotation to "famously" while maintaining the sense of widespread recognition.

prominently

Emphasizes the importance or visibility of something, rather than its fame.

widely recognized

A more descriptive substitute, clarifying that something has broad acknowledgement.

historically

Focuses on the past significance of something, rather than its present-day fame.

commonly known

Indicates that something is general knowledge, differing slightly from the implication of fame.

notoriously

Highlights negative or scandalous fame, providing an alternative with a distinct connotation.

FAQs

How can I use "famously" in a sentence?

Use "famously" to describe something or someone widely known or recognized. For instance, "Albert Einstein is "famously" known for his theory of relativity".

What are some alternatives to the word "famously"?

Alternatives include "notably", "well-known", or "renownedly", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always clear when to use "famously"?

While generally straightforward, consider the audience and context. Something "famously" known in one field may be obscure in another. Ensure the fact is genuinely well-established for your intended readership.

What is the difference between "famously" and "notoriously"?

"Famously" implies wide recognition, which can be positive or neutral. "Notoriously", on the other hand, specifically indicates fame for negative reasons or disreputable actions.