mysteriously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mysteriously" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is done in a way that is difficult to explain or understand, often implying an element of intrigue or secrecy. Example: "The lights flickered mysteriously before going out completely, leaving everyone in darkness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My mother helped me out, and slowly and mysteriously the black squiggles turned into words which turned into sentences, which turned into stories.

The Guardian - Books

After the first game, a defeat to Romania, they began getting death threats – including, mysteriously, on the TV screens in their hotel rooms.

The Guardian - Sport

Even Larousse Gastronomique, that bible of Gallic gastronomy, proved mysteriously silent on the subject.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Well, AlunaGeorge – two characters, one called Aluna and the other, mysteriously, called George – are doing just that.

The Guardian - Music

There's no doubt that Parker has silently, mysteriously, conquered our household.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Even so, patrols in the red light district were not increased despite one of the 'regulars' mysteriously vanishing.

The Guardian

I spend the first few minutes of the interview trying to convince Hegarty that I'm not infectious, and even (rather desperately) try to bond with him about the fact he once lost his voice mysteriously for a year and had to be treated with steroids.

The Guardian - Music

Here he reveals that crime and punishment are mirrors of each other, that detectives and police officers are mysteriously dependent on the existence of crime.

The Guardian - Arts

Before her Twitter account was mysteriously shut down, Karimova also accused the powerful head of Uzbekistan's security service, Rustam Inoyatov, of attempting a power grab.

The Guardian

For others, even one hour teaching undergraduate students is mysteriously withheld.

The Guardian

If the image exists, now is the time for it mysteriously to find its way into the blogosphere.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mysteriously" when you want to emphasize the inexplicable or puzzling nature of an event or action, adding a layer of intrigue to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "mysteriously" when a simpler adverb like "quietly" or "suddenly" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "mysteriously" functions primarily as a modifier, describing how an action is performed or how a situation unfolds. It adds a layer of intrigue or inexplicability to the event, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "mysteriously" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term to describe actions or events that are difficult to explain. Analysis of various sources by Ludwig shows that it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a more neutral tone. When employing this word, remember to emphasize intrigue or something inexplicable. If the goal is to achieve more accuracy, consider alternatives like "enigmatically", "inexplicably", or "strangely" for greater nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enigmatically

Focuses on the puzzling and inexplicable nature of the event or action.

inexplicably

Highlights the lack of a clear reason or explanation for the event.

strangely

Emphasizes the odd or peculiar nature of the situation.

peculiarly

Similar to strangely, but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the unusual.

oddly

A more casual synonym for strangely or peculiarly.

curiously

Suggests a sense of intrigue or interest in the mysterious event.

cryptically

Implies that the action or event is deliberately obscure or veiled.

unaccountably

Indicates that there is no apparent or justifiable reason for the event.

in a puzzling manner

A more descriptive phrase that highlights the confusing nature of the event.

in an unfathomable way

Highlights that the event is incomprehensible and difficult to understand.

FAQs

How to use "mysteriously" in a sentence?

Use "mysteriously" to describe actions or events that are difficult to explain or understand. For example, "The door opened "mysteriously", even though no one was there."

What can I say instead of "mysteriously"?

You can use alternatives like "enigmatically", "inexplicably", or "strangely" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. For example, the cat vanished "strangely".

Which is correct, "mysteriously disappeared" or "strangely disappeared"?

Both are correct, but "mysteriously disappeared" emphasizes the lack of explanation for the disappearance, while "strangely disappeared" emphasizes the oddness of the event. Choose based on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "mysteriously" and "secretly"?

"Mysteriously" implies something is difficult to understand, while "secretly" implies something is deliberately hidden. A message might be delivered "mysteriously" if its meaning is unclear, or "secretly" if the sender doesn't want others to know about it.