Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

necessarily

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "necessarily" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is required or essential in a particular context. Example: "The results of the experiment do not necessarily mean that the hypothesis is correct."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

News & Media

The New York Times

But not necessarily.

News & Media

The New York Times

"I didn't think it was necessarily the right thing to do on that day but he had made up his mind".

News & Media

The Guardian

Long productive lives are not necessarily a boon to artists – think of Kokoschka or André Derain, for example.

"But they're not necessarily good leaders because they've never led a team before".

News & Media

The Guardian

Industrial-scale US network shows also don't necessarily punch through in the way that a short-run British drama can.

News & Media

The Guardian

"I think it certainly came across in focus groups that women, and we did say this all the way through the campaign, Nicola said it a lot, not that they were necessarily more hostile but they were more questioning.

News & Media

The Guardian

Hopkinson, who wrote a report on rural churches earlier this year that called for urgent reforms in some aspects of their administration, says a tiny congregation is not necessarily a cause for gloom: "It's very important to honour the small.

News & Media

The Guardian

This is an odyssey in the originalsense of the word – protracted, circuitous, not necessarily bound to end.

News & Media

The Guardian

The above map is not necessarily a good indicator of where people taking civil partnership ceremonies live as it shows where the registration took place rather than the place of residence.

News & Media

The Guardian

Sitting on a charity board is "a good way of expanding your horizons", he said, but the right candidates might not necessarily be attracted because of a lack of knowledge about what exactly trusteeship involves.

News & Media

The Guardian
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "necessarily" to precisely convey that a condition or outcome is logically required, rather than merely possible or probable. This strengthens the clarity and accuracy of your statements.

Common error

Avoid using "necessarily" in broad generalizations where the connection is weak or unsupported. Instead, provide specific evidence or reasoning to justify the claim.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The adverb "necessarily" functions primarily as a qualifier, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that something is required, logically follows, or is inevitable under specific conditions. According to Ludwig, its presence often signals a conditional or qualified statement, as shown in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "necessarily" is a versatile adverb used to indicate that something is required or inevitably follows given certain conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in News & Media. To ensure clarity, use "necessarily" to add nuance and precision by specifying that a relationship or outcome is conditional rather than universally true. Avoid overuse in generalizations. Consider alternatives like "inevitably" or "certainly" depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey. Using "necessarily" appropriately enhances the accuracy and sophistication of your writing.

FAQs

How can I use "necessarily" in a sentence?

Use "necessarily" to indicate that something is required or inevitably follows from a certain condition. For example, "High prices do not "necessarily mean high quality"".

What are some alternatives to "necessarily"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "necessarily" include "inevitably", "certainly", "by necessity", or "of course".

Is it correct to say "not necessarily"?

Yes, "not necessarily" is a common and grammatically correct phrase. It indicates that something is not always the case or is not required to be true. Example: "Is he going to win?" "Not necessarily".

What is the difference between "necessarily" and "essentially"?

"Necessarily" implies a requirement or inevitability, while "essentially" means fundamentally or intrinsically. Something that is "essentially" true is true in its core nature, whereas something that is "necessarily" true is true given certain conditions or logical constraints.

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: