inherently

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "inherently" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is naturally part of or a characteristic of something else. For example, "Life is inherently unpredictable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

According to Yuseff Hamm, president of the NYPD Guardians Association,a black officers' fraternal group, pot arrests are inherently unfair because black and brown pot users often don't have backyards to smoke a joint in.

The Guardian

The facility was even unknown to Rob Warden, the founder of Northwestern University Law School's Center on Wrongful Convictions, until the Guardian informed him of the allegations of clients who vanish into inherently coercive police custody.

The Guardian

It cost $24m, in 1981 an unheard-of amount for an inherently small-scale film, and was withdrawn a week after release.

The Guardian

And this is the thing: if we weren't inherently lazy, we wouldn't work in offices.

The Guardian - Opinion

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

Harun Khan, deputy secretary general of the council, said: "Is Mr Pickles seriously suggesting, as do members of the far right, that Muslims and Islam are inherently apart from British society?" He said he was writing back to Pickles to demand an explanation for the assumptions that appeared to be in the letter.

The Guardian

It's not just Liberal politicians and apparatchiks that find something inherently laughable about Irish people.

The Guardian - Opinion

Related: WikiLeaks publishes secret draft chapter of Trans-Pacific Partnership Even those who favour opening up markets and liberalising trade oppose the TPP, since its backroom process inherently privileges incumbent industries, giving the largest companies even more market share and more power to set policies that stifle competition and innovation.

The Guardian

The life of a reality star seems somehow inherently different than that of other entertainment professionals like actors or musicians: those who play at "reality" beg the public to invest themselves in every nuance of their private lives.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He pointed to sites and organisations that block "deep links" directly to pages within a site, bypassing its front page, and governments which are blocking other indexing, and said that they are effectively claiming that the right to be forgotten, or not, "is inherently theirs".

The Guardian - Tech

What's more, the bodies of black and minority ethnic (BME) women are sexualised in specific ways, seen as inherently sexual and animalistic, with a heavy focus on body shape, particularly the posterior.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "inherently", ensure it accurately reflects that the characteristic is a natural and inseparable part of the subject, not merely a common or frequent occurrence.

Common error

Avoid using "inherently" to describe traits that are merely common or associated with something, rather than being a fundamental and inseparable aspect of its nature. For instance, saying "This job is inherently stressful" might be an overstatement if the stress is due to external factors rather than the job's core nature.

Linguistic Context

The word "inherently" functions as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that a quality or characteristic is an essential and inseparable part of something. As Ludwig AI states, it describes something naturally part of something else. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inherently" is an adverb used to describe a quality or characteristic that is a natural and inseparable part of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is frequently used in news and media, as well as in formal and business contexts, to emphasize the intrinsic nature of a particular attribute. When using "inherently", it is important to ensure that it accurately reflects a fundamental aspect, rather than a mere association. Alternatives such as "intrinsically", "naturally", and "fundamentally" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Understanding the proper usage of "inherently" enhances the precision and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intrinsically

Emphasizes the internal nature of the characteristic.

naturally

Highlights the ease and normalcy of the characteristic.

fundamentally

Stresses the foundational aspect of the characteristic.

essentially

Focuses on the core nature of the characteristic.

by nature

Highlights the innate quality of something.

in essence

Emphasizes the basic or intrinsic nature.

by its very nature

Adds emphasis to the inherent quality.

at its core

Implies the most basic and essential aspect.

at heart

Suggests the deepest and most fundamental characteristic.

genuinely

Indicates authenticity and natural occurrence.

FAQs

How to use "inherently" in a sentence?

Use "inherently" to describe a quality or characteristic that is a natural and essential part of something. For example, "The design is "inherently flawed"" means the flaw is a fundamental aspect of the design.

What can I say instead of "inherently"?

You can use alternatives like "intrinsically", "naturally", or "fundamentally" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "inherently bad" or "intrinsically bad"?

Both "inherently bad" and "intrinsically bad" are correct and have very similar meanings. "Inherently bad" suggests the badness is a natural part of something, while "intrinsically bad" emphasizes that the badness is part of its core essence.

What's the difference between "inherently" and "essentially"?

"Inherently" refers to a quality that is a natural and inseparable part of something, while "essentially" refers to the most important or basic aspect. Something that is "inherently good" is naturally good, while something that is "essentially good" is good in its most basic form.