incredibly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incredibly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the degree or intensity of an adjective or adverb, often conveying a strong sense of amazement or surprise. Example: "The movie was incredibly captivating, keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Rob's an incredible singer technically, incredibly loud, and incredibly good melodically.

The Guardian - Music

No one in the band, incredibly, thought to do a cover of Air Supply's All Out of Love.

The Guardian - Arts

Related: New year's resolutions: quitting your job, cooking from scratch and shopping sustainably Disconnecting It's incredibly tough for a journalist to disconnect from technology.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And an incredibly cheesy Budweiser advert uses the bond between a man and his dog to promote road safety.

The Guardian

Between 5% and 9% used the "incredibly ancient" Wired Equivalent Privacy WEPprotocolcol, which was supposed to protect people's data moving around routers, but has known vulnerabilities and should not be used anywhere, Lyne said.

The Guardian - Tech

Incredibly, only 5% of that lending was to British companies, perhaps 1% to innovative companies and sectors.

The Guardian - Opinion

They are incredibly melancholy, with a strong emotional core, while remaining absolutely terrifying.

The Guardian - Film

But some level of fossil fandom is incredibly common.

The Guardian - Opinion

They have an incredibly difficult job, balancing risk with the availability of beds.

The Guardian

Third, it's incredibly insulting to the vast majority of men to suggest that they are inherently savage and will always attack women given an opportunity.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A top 20 shareholder who had intended to vote against the re-election of Hellawell told the Guardian earlier this month: "The overriding impression created by this episode is of an incredibly weak board".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incredibly" to amplify adjectives and adverbs, adding emphasis to descriptions. For example, "incredibly talented" or "incredibly fast".

Common error

Avoid using "incredibly" in contexts where the intensity is not genuinely high. Overusing it can diminish its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "incredibly" primarily functions as an intensifier, modifying adjectives or adverbs to emphasize a high degree or extent. As Ludwig AI points out, it serves to strengthen the impact of the words it modifies, conveying a sense of remarkableness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incredibly" is a versatile adverb used to intensify adjectives and adverbs, primarily in neutral to slightly informal contexts such as news and media. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and notes its role in emphasizing qualities. While grammatically sound and widely used, it's important to avoid overuse in neutral statements to maintain its impact. Alternatives like "extremely" or "remarkably" can provide similar emphasis while offering slight variations in tone and nuance. Therefore, understanding its function and usage patterns is crucial for effective and impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Extremely

This alternative offers a general sense of high intensity, similar to "incredibly" but slightly less emphatic.

Remarkably

This alternative suggests that something is noteworthy or surprising, adding a layer of wonder not always present in "incredibly".

Exceptionally

This alternative implies that something is beyond the norm, highlighting its unique quality to a greater degree than "incredibly".

Highly

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes a substantial degree of a quality or characteristic.

Intensely

This alternative focuses on the depth or force of a feeling or action, adding an emotional dimension that "incredibly" may not always convey.

Profoundly

This alternative suggests a deep and significant impact, implying a more meaningful effect than "incredibly".

Extraordinarily

This alternative implies a higher level of uniqueness and rarity compared to "incredibly".

Notably

This alternative draws attention to a specific aspect, highlighting its significance rather than its sheer intensity.

Significantly

This alternative indicates an important effect or consequence, adding a layer of impact that "incredibly" might lack.

Decidedly

This alternative emphasizes a clear and unmistakable quality, indicating a distinct characteristic not always present in "incredibly".

FAQs

How can I use "incredibly" in a sentence?

You can use "incredibly" to emphasize the degree of an adjective or adverb. For example, "She was "incredibly generous"" or "He performed "incredibly well"".

What words can I use instead of "incredibly"?

Alternatives to "incredibly" include "extremely", "remarkably", or "exceptionally", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "incredibly" in formal writing?

Yes, "incredibly" is acceptable in formal writing, especially when you want to emphasize a point. However, consider alternatives like "highly" or "significantly" for a more subdued tone.

What's the difference between "incredibly" and "unbelievably"?

"Incredibly" typically emphasizes a high degree or extent, while "unbelievably" suggests something is difficult to believe. While similar, "unbelievably" carries a stronger sense of amazement or skepticism. For example, "He was "incredibly talented"" versus "He survived the accident "unbelievably well"".