helped me very

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "helped me very" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used in informal contexts, but it lacks clarity and completeness. Example: "The support from my friends helped me very much during tough times."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Then he talked some more and helped me very much.

The New York Times

"It wasn't my strategy, but it helped me very much," she said.

The New York Times

My father helped me very early with this kind of thing.

The New Yorker

I read the poem in all its stages in the ten-month course of its composition, and it helped me very much to do that.

The New Yorker

"It helped me very much because I used to think that change only takes place by force and by weapons," she said.

The New York Times

"I am certain that the LSD experiment has helped me very much," Wilson wrote in a 1957 letter to the science writer and philosopher Gerald Heard.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Coco started helping me very early on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Every class gave me an enriching new perspective and tools that will help me very much in the long run through my professional and personal life.

Columbia University

He was not a well man in the end and he was sorry that I did all the work and he couldn't help me very much.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The bicycle I have been given will help me very much because up until today I have been going around on foot.

The Guardian

That would help me very much in improving my thesis work, because MIT has the equipment I need.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer stronger adverbs like "immensely", "greatly", or "significantly" instead of "very" to modify "helped". This enhances the clarity and impact of your statement. For example, use "helped me greatly" instead of "helped me very".

Common error

Avoid using "very" simply as an intensifier with "helped". It often weakens the statement. Instead, opt for more descriptive adverbs or rephrase the sentence to convey the extent of the help more effectively. Using more descriptive language improves the quality of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "helped me very" primarily functions as a verb phrase expressing assistance. It's used to describe an action where someone provided aid or support. Ludwig indicates that it's not the most grammatically sound construction, and there are better ways to express the same idea.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "helped me very" is frequently used, it is grammatically weak. Ludwig suggests that stronger alternatives, such as "helped me a lot", "assisted me greatly", or "helped me significantly", are preferable for enhanced clarity and impact. These alternatives are better suited for formal contexts, offering more descriptive ways to express gratitude and acknowledge assistance. By choosing more precise language, you can improve the overall quality and effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Helped me a lot

Replaces "very" with "a lot" for a more common and grammatically sound expression.

Helped me immensely

Replace "very" with "immensely" to emphasize the magnitude of help.

Assisted me greatly

Uses "assisted" to offer a more formal and emphatic way of saying "helped" and replaces "very" with "greatly".

Helped me significantly

Substitutes "very" with "significantly" to indicate a substantial degree of help.

Was a great help to me

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the helpfulness as a quality.

Provided me substantial assistance

Offers a more formal and descriptive way of expressing significant help.

Contributed greatly to my progress

Changes the focus to the positive outcome of the help, emphasizing progress.

Was instrumental in my success

Highlights the crucial role of the help in achieving success.

Was a major factor in my improvement

Emphasizes the significant impact on personal improvement.

Gave me invaluable support

Focuses on the type of support received, highlighting its value.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "helped me very"?

Instead of "helped me very", you can use stronger and more precise phrases such as "helped me a lot", "assisted me greatly", or "helped me significantly".

Is it grammatically correct to say "helped me very"?

While understandable, "helped me very" is not considered grammatically strong. It's better to use more descriptive adverbs or rephrase the sentence for clarity and impact.

How can I emphasize the level of help I received without using "helped me very"?

To emphasize the level of help, consider using phrases like "helped me immensely", "was a "great help to me"", or "provided me substantial assistance". These options provide a clearer and more impactful description.

What's wrong with using "very" as an intensifier in "helped me very"?

The word "very" is often seen as a weak intensifier. Stronger adverbs, such as "greatly" or "significantly", convey a more precise level of assistance. Using "helped me greatly" or "helped me significantly" provides more impact and clarity.