greatly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "greatly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a large amount of something. For example, "My productivity has increased greatly in the past month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"You will be greatly missed, and I hope very much that you will be able to return to service on the frontbench before too long".

The Guardian

With the two main parties engaged in trying to convince voters which is the most important electoral issue, how the respective messages are perceived matters greatly.

The Guardian

I greatly appreciate all of the support I have received over the past years, particularly from the British public and my team and sponsors; it has been an extremely happy and successful time.

The Guardian - Sport

Putin has managed to destabilise every former Soviet republic and greatly damage the strategic credibility of the west – of which Nato is a central pillar.

The Guardian - Opinion

It adds another layer of security and greatly reduces your risk of being compromised.

The Guardian - Tech

A male hen harrier's silhouette gliding low over the moorland is an eerie sight greatly prized by bird lovers, but the bird is best known for its aerobatic displays of climbing, twisting and rolling, known as sky dancing.

The Guardian

By embedding tech into its marketing, stores and shopper experience, everybody who has the Topshop app was given access to exclusive previews and content from the launch day, greatly extending the campaign's reach.

The Guardian

In the 20th-century, as homophobic European Christian influences increased among many Native Americans, respect for same-sex love and for androgynous persons greatly declined.

The Guardian - Music

And Shaw goes on to note that the ferocity of the wolf "is greatly mitigated by an early education; of which the individual specimen from which the present figure was taken, is a remarkable instance;" it had, he wrote, "been rendered in a great degree tame and gentle by the assiduity of the late Sir Ashton Lever".

The Guardian

The virtues of the single market are greatly exaggerated.

The Guardian - Opinion

All the options would demand more care workers, though in greatly differing combinations.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "greatly" to emphasize the significant impact or degree of an action, quality, or change. For example, "The new policy greatly improved employee morale."

Common error

Avoid using "greatly" in very informal settings where simpler adverbs like "a lot" or "much" might be more appropriate. Overusing it can make your writing sound overly formal or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "greatly" functions as an intensifier, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate a high degree or extent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "greatly" is a versatile adverb used to intensify actions and qualities, indicating a substantial degree or impact. Ludwig AI confirms that "greatly" is grammatically sound and prevalent in formal and semi-formal contexts, such as news articles, scientific publications, and business communications. While alternatives like "considerably" or "significantly" exist, "greatly" retains its unique emphasis. To ensure clarity and maintain an appropriate tone, writers should consider the context and formality of their writing when using the word "greatly".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Considerably

Replaces "greatly" with a term indicating a substantial degree or amount.

Significantly

Emphasizes the importance or consequence of the degree or extent.

Substantially

Highlights the tangible or material aspect of the degree.

Extremely

Indicates a very high degree or intensity.

Remarkably

Suggests that the degree or extent is noteworthy or surprising.

Notably

Focuses on the conspicuous or evident nature of the degree.

Appreciably

Implies that the degree or extent is easily perceived or recognized.

Immensely

Conveys a sense of vastness or boundlessness in the degree.

Profoundly

Highlights the depth or intensity of the degree, often with emotional or intellectual implications.

Intensely

Emphasizes the force or concentration of the degree.

FAQs

How can I use "greatly" in a sentence?

"Greatly" is used to intensify an action or describe something done to a large extent. For example, "I "greatly appreciate" your help" or "The weather "greatly affected" our plans".

What are some alternatives to "greatly"?

You can use alternatives like "considerably", "significantly", or "substantially" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "greatly" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "greatly" in formal writing, news articles, and academic papers to emphasize the degree or extent of something. However, in very casual conversation, it might sound overly formal. Choose a word like "a lot" instead.

Is "greatly" interchangeable with "very much"?

While both "greatly" and "very much" indicate a high degree, "greatly" is more formal and often used to modify verbs, while "very much" can modify both verbs and adjectives. For example, "I appreciate it greatly" versus "I appreciate it very much".