relatively smoothly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relatively smoothly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process or event that occurs with a moderate level of ease or without significant difficulties. Example: "The project progressed relatively smoothly, despite a few minor setbacks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They adapted relatively smoothly".

The New York Times

The lineout purred relatively smoothly.

The Guardian - Sport

Several factors helped this proceed relatively smoothly.

The Economist

Yingluck led the country for two years relatively smoothly.

The Guardian

As it turned out, the procedure went relatively smoothly.

The New York Times

Snow removal proceeded relatively smoothly in the big northeastern cities.

The Guardian

A futures and options expiry passed relatively smoothly.

The Guardian - Business

As a bonus, the reform should be implemented relatively smoothly.

Independent

The coalition-building machine seemed to be running relatively smoothly.

The Economist

For the moment, things seem to be going relatively smoothly.

The New York Times

Personal income, excluding capital gains, has grown relatively smoothly by comparison.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "relatively smoothly" to describe processes, transitions, or implementations that experience minimal obstacles or delays. This is particularly useful when setting expectations or assessing outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively smoothly" when describing events that involve significant difficulties or major setbacks. The phrase suggests a level of ease that would be misleading in such contexts. Instead, opt for phrases that accurately reflect the presence of challenges.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively smoothly" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or verb phrase to indicate the manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "relatively smoothly" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to describe actions or processes that occur with a reasonable degree of ease. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and the phrase appears frequently in news and media, but also in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. While "relatively smoothly" indicates a generally positive outcome, it acknowledges the possibility of minor issues. When using "relatively smoothly", ensure that the context aligns with its meaning, avoiding its application when describing events with significant complications. Alternatives like ""fairly smoothly"" and ""quite smoothly"" can be used to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comparatively seamlessly

Replaces "smoothly" with "seamlessly", adding a nuance of perfection to the ease of the process.

reasonably effortlessly

Substitutes both words to emphasize the ease and lack of required effort.

fairly without complications

Rephrases the entire expression to highlight the absence of problems.

moderately without difficulty

Replaces "relatively" with "moderately" and "smoothly" with "without difficulty", focusing on the lack of challenges.

somewhat uneventfully

Highlights the absence of significant events or problems during the process.

quite efficiently

Focuses on the efficiency of the process, implying a smooth operation.

largely without issues

Emphasizes the minimal presence of problems or concerns.

mostly in order

Conveys that things are generally well-organized and proceeding as expected.

more or less well

Indicates an acceptable but not necessarily perfect level of smoothness.

with limited friction

Suggests a lack of resistance or conflict during the process.

FAQs

How can I use "relatively smoothly" in a sentence?

You can use "relatively smoothly" to describe how a process or event occurred with a moderate level of ease or without significant difficulties. For example: "The transition went "relatively smoothly", despite a few minor issues."

What are some alternatives to "relatively smoothly"?

Alternatives include "fairly smoothly", "quite smoothly", or "reasonably smoothly", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "relatively smoothly"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Relatively" is an adverb that modifies the adverb "smoothly", indicating the degree to which something is smooth.

What's the difference between "relatively smoothly" and "completely smoothly"?

"Relatively smoothly" implies that there might have been some minor issues or imperfections, whereas "completely smoothly" suggests that everything went perfectly without any problems.