mutually

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'mutually' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is used when two or more people agree to something together or have the same opinion. For example, "The two companies agreed to the new contract terms mutually."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hard as it is to imagine, revolutionary Iran continued to cooperate with Israel during much of the 1980s and 1990s despite the mutually bellicose rhetoric out of Tehran and Tel Aviv.

The Guardian

It is possible to build mutually beneficial educational links in emerging states while maintaining home country standards in labour regulation".

The Guardian

"[Russia] thinks strategically", he said, "and they are taking the right approach by using their expertise in everything from arms to nuclear power to satellite technology in order to ensure mutually advantageous cooperation with strategic African partners.

The Guardian

How can press officers and journalists work better together so they have a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship rather than an antagonistic one?

The Guardian

She cares about style, but has a brain, suggesting those qualities are not mutually exclusive.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When I was done, to celebrate our mutually beneficial burst of creativity, we went for a drink.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

How he and Inverness have been a mutually beneficial partnership.

The Guardian - Sport

As a young black woman, my experiences  of racism and sexism are not mutually exclusive.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

International hopes were raised when the Arab League last month spoke for the first time about a Palestinian state on 1967 borders with "comparable and mutually agreed minor swaps of the land".

The Guardian

David agrees that, when properly defined, liberty and equality are essentially related, rather than mutually exclusive, conditions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Cridland, however, was adamant that fostering growth and cutting the deficit were not mutually exclusive.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mutually", ensure it clearly indicates a reciprocal action or feeling between two or more parties to avoid ambiguity. For example, "They reached a mutually agreeable solution" is better than "They agreed mutually."

Common error

Avoid placing "mutually" directly after the verb. Instead, ensure it modifies the adjective or the entire action. For example, prefer "mutually beneficial relationship" to "benefited mutually".

Linguistic Context

The adverb "mutually" primarily functions to modify adjectives or verbs, indicating a shared, reciprocal, or common nature. As supported by Ludwig AI, it emphasizes that an action, feeling, or state is experienced or performed by all parties involved. Examples show that "mutually" is commonly used to describe agreements, benefits, or understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mutually" functions as an adverb to indicate shared or reciprocal actions, feelings, or agreements, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically sound and widely used across diverse contexts, notably in news, business, and scientific domains. To ensure clarity, position "mutually" correctly to modify adjectives or entire actions. Alternatives like "reciprocally" or "jointly" may suit specific nuances. This guide offers insights into its appropriate usage, common errors to avoid, and related phrases for enhanced writing precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reciprocally

Emphasizes the back-and-forth nature of an action or feeling, similar to "mutually" in certain contexts.

in common

Highlights shared aspects or understandings, relating to the shared element in "mutually".

collectively

Focuses on the group aspect of an action or decision, suggesting a shared or joint effort akin to "mutually".

jointly

Stresses the shared responsibility or involvement, mirroring the combined action implied by "mutually".

together

Underscores the collaborative nature, indicating a shared activity or goal as with "mutually".

by agreement

Specifies that something is done based on a shared understanding or consensus, close to one sense of "mutually".

in conjunction

Highlights the cooperative or combined action, similar to "mutually" when referring to shared efforts.

symbiotically

Highlights the interdependent and beneficial nature of a relationship, similar to mutually beneficial.

interdependently

Stresses the reliance each party has on the other, similar to a "mutually" supportive situation.

by common consent

Highlights the agreement of all involved parties.

FAQs

How can I use "mutually" in a sentence?

"Mutually" is generally used to describe actions, feelings, or agreements that are shared or reciprocal between two or more parties. For instance, "They have a "mutually beneficial relationship"" or "The decision was "mutually agreed" upon".

What's a good alternative to using "mutually"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "reciprocally", "jointly", or "collectively". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "benefited mutually"?

While understandable, it's generally better to say "mutually beneficial" or "benefited each other". The placement of "mutually" before the adjective is more grammatically sound.

What is the difference between "mutually exclusive" and "mutually inclusive"?

"Mutually exclusive" means that two or more events cannot occur at the same time (e.g., flipping a coin can result in heads or tails, but not both simultaneously). "Mutually inclusive", on the other hand, means that they can occur together (e.g., being both intelligent and creative are not mutually exclusive).