fortunately not

USAGE SUMMARY

"fortunately not" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to express relief that something has not happened. For example: Fortunately, my car wasn't damaged in the accident.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Fortunately not.

The New York Times

Fortunately, not everyone obeyed.

The New Yorker

Fortunately, not all.

The Economist

No, fortunately not.

The Guardian - Film

Fortunately, not all at Votto's expense.

The New York Times - Sports

Fortunately, not all of them were.

The New York Times

Fortunately not – she's in the headlines herself.

Independent

Fortunately, not every strip reprint looks like "The Complete Peanuts".

The New York Times

Fortunately, not all states and localities followed that destructive approach.

The New York Times

"I was charming and plausible, fortunately not dangerous".

The Guardian - Books

Fortunately, not all recent advances represent such dubious steps forward.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fortunately not" to introduce a statement that contrasts with a potential negative situation, emphasizing the positive outcome or averted problem.

Common error

While "fortunately not" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "mercifully" or rephrasing the sentence to maintain a formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fortunately not" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to express a sense of relief or good fortune that something did not happen. Ludwig's AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

15%

Opinion

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fortunately not" is a grammatically correct and widely used adverbial phrase that conveys relief or a positive outcome, contrasting with a potentially negative situation. Ludwig's AI confirms its usability in written English. While very common across various sources, including news and media, its register is generally neutral, suggesting that alternative options might be more appropriate in highly formal contexts. Consider synonyms such as "luckily not" or rephrasing the sentence for enhanced formality when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

luckily not

Replaces "fortunately" with a synonym expressing good fortune. Slightly less formal.

thankfully not

Highlights a sense of gratitude that something undesirable did not occur.

happily not

Emphasizes the positive feeling associated with the outcome. Can sound slightly more emotive.

mercifully, no

Indicates a sense of relief, often in a situation where the alternative would have been severe or unpleasant.

it was a relief that didn't happen

Focuses on the feeling of relief experienced because something didn't occur.

it's a good thing that didn't happen

Expresses the sentiment in a more verbose way, highlighting the averted negative event.

to my relief, not

Directly states the speaker's feeling of relief.

I'm relieved it didn't

Personalizes the expression, emphasizing the speaker's positive emotional response.

by good fortune, not

A more formal way of expressing that luck played a role in the positive outcome.

as luck would have it, not

More idiomatic, suggesting an element of chance in the favorable outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "fortunately not" in a sentence?

"Fortunately not" is used to express relief that something potentially negative did not occur. For instance, "The rain was heavy, but "fortunately not" enough to cause flooding."

What are some alternatives to using "fortunately not"?

You can use alternatives like "luckily not", "thankfully not", or "happily not" depending on the context.

Is "fortunately not" appropriate for formal writing?

While acceptable, "fortunately not" might sound informal in highly formal contexts. Consider using stronger, more formal alternatives or rephrasing for a more sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "fortunately not" and "sadly not"?

"Fortunately not" expresses relief, whereas "sadly not" expresses disappointment or regret. They convey opposite sentiments regarding an outcome.