perfectly well

USAGE SUMMARY

"perfectly well" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you're emphasizing something had been done correctly or when you're describing something is in good condition. For example, "She spoke to me perfectly well, so I knew she wasn't upset."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

JPMorgan understands this perfectly well.

The New York Times

He functioned perfectly well.

The New York Times - Books

— Momix obliges perfectly well.

The New York Times - Arts

Which they knew perfectly well.

The Guardian - Sport

Stalin understood it perfectly well.

The Guardian - Books

It stands perfectly well alongside Uefa.

Independent

And she knows it perfectly well.

The New York Times - Arts

Campaigning and voting went perfectly well.

The Economist

In other respects he sleeps perfectly well.

The New York Times

Televisa can cope perfectly well without Univision.

The Economist

He knew that perfectly well, of course.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perfectly well" to emphasize a high degree of competence, understanding, or satisfactory condition. It adds a stronger affirmation than simply saying "well".

Common error

While versatile, "perfectly well" can sound slightly informal in highly professional or academic writing. Consider alternatives like "completely satisfactory" or "entirely capable" to maintain a more elevated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perfectly well" functions as an adverbial modifier, adding emphasis to the verb it modifies. It intensifies the meaning, indicating a high degree of competence, understanding, or satisfactory condition, as evidenced by examples found in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "perfectly well" functions as an adverbial modifier to emphasize competence, understanding, or satisfactory condition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts. While versatile, be mindful of the slightly informal tone in highly formal settings, opting for alternatives when appropriate. It is very common in News & Media. Employing this phrase effectively requires awareness of its emphatic nature and subtle register implications. The examples provided by Ludwig offer valuable insights into its real-world application, and related phrases can be useful for varying your writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Knows full well

Similar to "perfectly well", this phrase emphasizes a person's awareness of something, often with a hint of knowing the consequences or implications.

Absolutely fine

Emphasizes a complete and satisfactory condition, similar to "perfectly well" but with a slightly less formal tone.

Completely fine

Similar to "absolutely fine", this phrase underscores the thoroughness of the satisfactory state.

Entirely satisfactory

Focuses on the satisfaction aspect, highlighting that all requirements or expectations are met fully.

Fully capable

Shifts the emphasis to ability, suggesting someone or something is adequately equipped to perform a task.

Functioning flawlessly

This alternative emphasizes the smooth and efficient operation of something, focusing on the lack of any defects or issues.

Thoroughly adept

Highlights a high level of skill or proficiency, more formal than "perfectly well".

Operating smoothly

Similar to "functioning flawlessly", this highlights the ease and efficiency of an action or process.

Entirely familiar

Emphasizes complete knowledge or understanding of a subject, differing from the broader sense of "perfectly well".

Clearly understands

Specifically indicates comprehension, moving away from the general well-being or functionality implied by "perfectly well".

FAQs

How can I use "perfectly well" in a sentence?

"Perfectly well" is used to emphasize that something is done correctly or that someone understands something completely. For example, "She understood the instructions perfectly well" or "The system functions perfectly well".

What are some alternatives to using "perfectly well"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "absolutely fine", "completely satisfactory", or "knows full well" as alternatives to "perfectly well".

Is "perfectly well" appropriate for formal writing?

While "perfectly well" is generally acceptable, in highly formal writing, consider using alternatives such as "entirely satisfactory" or "fully capable" to maintain a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "perfectly well" and "very well"?

"Perfectly well" implies a higher degree of competence or understanding than "very well". "Perfectly well" suggests a complete and thorough state, while "very well" indicates a good but possibly not flawless condition.