habitually

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "habitually" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that often occurs as a habit. For example: "He habitually arrives late to work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's the mindset of a system that habitually gives one party a majority of seats.

The Guardian

The huge wind and brass sections steal the foreground from the habitually warmer sonority of the strings, and the percussion section dominates over everything.

The Guardian - Music

You can only claim social security benefits if you are working in another member state, or are a family member of someone working in another member state, or are habitually resident in that member state.

The Guardian

Sadly, bringing politics into disrepute, which is blamed for the irresistible rise of political disillusionment – and of which the belief that politicians are habitually lying is a basic ingredient – goes unpunished in too many ways to single out this case from the rest.

The Guardian - Opinion

Caborn's habitually decent sentiments have mostly lacked solid action here, but in Leipzig he worked hard to secure a political approach of some sophistication.

The Guardian - Sport

One thing that could be held against her is that she is mean and habitually mistakes unkindness for strength, and displays a bullish lack of restraint for an inability to suffer fools.

The Guardian

Getting the balance right between the opportunities and the problems is not easy, and is made worse by sections of the press that habitually exaggerate the uniqueness of the alternatives facing the UK – but it is not impossible.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is difficult to think of more serious possible misconduct by police officers, who are entrusted with the vitally important and habitually dangerous job of keeping people safe and protecting society from lawbreaking.

The Guardian - Opinion

So that the significance of what had happened in Moscow should not be forgotten, he habitually began subsequent recitals with The Star-Spangled Banner.

The Guardian - Music

The behavioural economist saw a user base accustomed to consuming music for free and now habitually disinclined to pay for it.

The Guardian - Books

After all, the bloc voting that has for years subverted the event has habitually played in Ukraine's favour.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "habitually" to emphasize a recurring pattern of behavior, especially when it's so ingrained that it's nearly automatic. For example, "She habitually checks her phone every few minutes" conveys a stronger sense of ingrained behavior than "She usually checks her phone".

Common error

Avoid using "habitually" when describing actions that are deliberate or context-dependent. For example, saying "He habitually locks the door when leaving" is redundant if locking the door is always a conscious security measure, not a mindless habit.

Linguistic Context

The word "habitually" functions as an adverb, modifying verbs to indicate that an action is performed regularly or as a habit. As Ludwig AI confirms, this term is correct and useful in written English. Examples show it describes recurring behaviors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "habitually" is a versatile adverb used to describe actions performed regularly as a matter of habit. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. It is most commonly found in news and media, business, and scientific contexts. While alternatives like "regularly" or "usually" exist, "habitually" uniquely emphasizes an ingrained pattern of behavior. To ensure proper usage, avoid redundancy and contextually inappropriate situations as reported by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by habit

This explicitly states that something is done out of habit, closely mirroring the meaning of "habitually".

usually

Suggests what is most often the case, focusing on typical behavior rather than ingrained habit.

regularly

Indicates a consistent pattern or frequency, but may not necessarily imply a deeply ingrained habit.

customarily

Highlights adherence to a specific custom or tradition, implying a social or cultural element not always present in "habitually".

typically

Similar to 'usually', this emphasizes the expected pattern, but does not highlight the habitual aspect as strongly.

on a regular basis

This alternative highlights the repetitive nature of the action but might not imply it is a personal habit.

frequently

Emphasizes the high number of occurrences, without specifically denoting a habit.

as a rule

Indicates something that generally happens, similar to 'usually' but less focused on ingrained personal behavior.

commonly

Points out widespread occurrence or acceptance, which may or may not stem from personal habit.

invariably

Suggests a lack of exception, more absolute than "habitually", which allows for occasional deviations.

FAQs

How can I use "habitually" in a sentence?

Use "habitually" to describe actions or behaviors that someone does regularly or by habit. For instance, "He "habitually arrives late"" implies it's a recurring pattern.

What words can I use instead of "habitually"?

Alternatives to "habitually" include "regularly", "frequently", "usually", or "customarily", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "habitually always"?

Saying "habitually always" is generally redundant because "habitually" already implies regularity. It's better to use either "habitually" or "always", but not both together.

What's the difference between "habitually" and "frequently"?

"Habitually" suggests an ingrained habit or pattern, while "frequently" simply means something occurs often, without necessarily being a habit. For example, someone might "frequently visit a city" for work, but they don't "habitually visit a city".