perfectly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'perfectly' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a variety of contexts to mean completely and exactly, without any flaws or mistakes. For example, "The flower arrangement was perfectly arranged."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I took this action because I want to make it perfectly clear: I was born in America and I am a proud American citizen.

The New York Times

Even perfectly ordinary trousers and tops can sometimes look odd because short people aren't just inflicted with short legs; we're short all over.

The Guardian - Travel

This pair who now espouse the global rights of women were perfectly prepared to trample over those they thought disposable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Berlin has already made perfectly clear that any changes to European treaties would be too risky.

The Guardian

And as many people with respiratory tract infections don't need antibiotics in the first place, because the infection is not actually caused by bacteria, stopping them is perfectly safe.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ayr's policy from the early minutes seemed perfectly clear; to make it to a penalty shoot-out and take their chances.

The Guardian - Sport

The fact that it ends with a full-scale fugue, as the whole cast sing one the funniest and most perfectly paced morals-of-the-story in operatic history, is only the last of Verdi's masterstrokes.

The Guardian - Music

"Where there are differential crime rates between nationalities, it is perfectly legitimate to point this out and to discuss it in the public sphere and I shall continue to do so.

The Guardian

In the streets and schools, pubs and offices in much of urban Britain, people from all round the world mix perfectly happily.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's perfectly possible that she will react badly, not least as it may come as a shock.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

However, the map of the world today is far from being a perfectly fitted jigsaw of successfully modernised nation-states.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perfectly" to emphasize the completeness or flawlessness of an action or state. For instance, "The plan was perfectly executed" conveys a sense of success and precision.

Common error

Avoid using "perfectly" excessively in casual conversations, as it can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for more relaxed alternatives like "totally" or "completely" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "perfectly" modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that something is done or exists without any flaws, completely, or ideally. Ludwig AI highlights its role in emphasizing the quality or state of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "perfectly" functions as an adverb to emphasize flawlessness or completeness. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability. While its register is typically neutral, overuse in casual contexts can sound stilted. Given its prevalence in news and media, careful consideration of context ensures effective and appropriate use. Alternatives such as "flawlessly" or "completely" can provide nuance and stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flawlessly

Emphasizes the absence of errors or imperfections in execution.

immaculately

Suggests a pristine and spotless condition, often used for appearance.

ideally

Indicates that something is in the best possible state or arrangement.

completely

Highlights the thoroughness and totality of an action or state.

absolutely

Stresses the certainty and absence of doubt in a statement or situation.

entirely

Similar to 'completely', denoting a full and comprehensive extent.

utterly

Conveys a sense of completeness and can sometimes imply surprise or intensity.

precisely

Highlights accuracy and exactness in detail.

spotlessly

Focuses on the absence of blemishes or dirt, typically in physical contexts.

unblemishedly

Emphasizes the purity and freedom from any defects or flaws.

FAQs

How can I use "perfectly" in a sentence?

You can use "perfectly" to describe something that is done without any mistakes or flaws. For example, "The cake was "perfectly baked"" or "She sang the song "perfectly"".

What's the difference between "perfectly" and "completely"?

"Perfectly" implies something is without flaw, while "completely" suggests something is finished or whole. "The puzzle was "completely solved"" means all pieces are in place, whereas "perfectly solved" indicates no errors were made.

What can I say instead of "perfectly"?

You can use alternatives like "flawlessly", "immaculately", or "ideally" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "perfectly" in formal writing?

While "perfectly" is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound unnatural. Consider using synonyms like "precisely" or "accurately" to add variety and nuance to your expression.