horizontally

USAGE SUMMARY

'horizontally' is a correct word in written English and it is commonly used to describe something that is parallel to the horizon or in a flat, level position.
It can be used in various contexts, such as in geometry, physics, and everyday language. Example sentence: The picture frame should be hung horizontally to ensure that it is straight and level. In this sentence, 'horizontally' is used to describe the position in which the picture frame should be hung, parallel to the ground.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

5 Scoop six mounds of dough, the size of generous golf balls, on to the baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up: it will make for a more attractive cookie.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Remove the pastries from the oven, allow to cool, then slice in half horizontally.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

3 When cool, slice the cake horizontally into two discs and drizzle both discs with the Tia Maria. 4 Next make the cream.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Arrange two crossed chives, if using, horizontally towards the bottom edge of the wrapper.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They're a swell of grotesque dough that balloons out horizontally.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The company in question is Reliance MediaWorks, and it exemplifies a second kind of way of spreading out a conglomerate: horizontally, across unrelated industries.

The Economist

The benefits of this second kind of expansion may seem less obvious, but it is still wildly popular, suggesting that synergies flow from being part of a big group in terms of financial muscle, managerial talent, brand, technology and influence with officials.A test of the soft-state theory is whether firms that are not in family hands also diversify vertically and horizontally.

The Economist

And it integrates those operations horizontally and globally".

The Economist

No question that, with twice the resolution horizontally and vertically, a 70-inch Ultra HD set would be pretty impressive even from nine feet away, and would still provide resolvable detail at twice that distance.

The Economist

Norwegian companies have learned how to drill horizontally as well as vertically.

The Economist

And by moving the pipette both horizontally and vertically it is possible to make three-dimensional patterns with more structure than a bowl of spaghetti.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the orientation of objects, use "horizontally" to clearly indicate a side-to-side or level alignment, ensuring clarity and avoiding ambiguity. For example, "Place the picture frame horizontally on the table."

Common error

Avoid using "horizontally" when you actually mean "vertically". "Horizontally" refers to a side-to-side orientation, while "vertically" refers to an up-and-down orientation. Double-check your descriptions to ensure accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "horizontally" primarily functions to modify verbs or adjectives, indicating the direction or orientation in which an action is performed or a state exists. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the word is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "horizontally" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe side-to-side orientation or direction. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and the examples show its widespread usage across diverse contexts, especially in news and media, science, and business. When using "horizontally", ensure it accurately reflects the intended spatial arrangement, avoiding confusion with "vertically". Alternatives such as "laterally" or "sideways" may offer a more informal tone, while "in a horizontal plane" provides a more formal expression. As demonstrated in the examples on Ludwig, this term plays a critical role in descriptions requiring precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a horizontal plane

A more formal and descriptive way to indicate a horizontal orientation.

parallel to the horizon

Specifies that something is aligned with the horizon line.

laterally

Replaces "horizontally" with a synonym emphasizing movement or extension to the side.

sideways

A more informal and general term indicating a direction to the side.

from side to side

Highlights movement or extension in a horizontal direction.

across

Suggests movement or placement from one side to another.

levelly

Emphasizes the evenness and flatness of the horizontal plane.

flatly

Describes something lying or positioned on a horizontal surface.

transversely

Indicates a direction or orientation that is across or at right angles.

broadwise

An uncommon but valid synonym for horizontally, emphasizing width.

FAQs

How do you use "horizontally" in a sentence?

You can use "horizontally" to describe the orientation or direction of something. For example, "The artist painted a wide landscape that stretched "horizontally" across the canvas."

What is an alternative to saying "horizontally"?

Alternatives to "horizontally" include phrases like "laterally", "sideways", or "in a horizontal plane", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "horizontally" or "verticaly"?

"Horizontally" refers to a side-to-side orientation, while "vertically" refers to an up-and-down orientation. They are opposites and used in different contexts. Ensure you choose the word that accurately describes the direction or orientation you intend.

What does it mean to say something is oriented "horizontally"?

To say something is oriented "horizontally" means it is aligned in a side-to-side direction, parallel to the horizon. This is often used in contrast to being oriented vertically, which means up-and-down.