reportedly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "reportedly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that the statement you are making is based on what someone else has said, but you cannot confirm the accuracy of the information yourself. For example: "Reportedly, the new store will open next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Police are still investigating threats to kill Hall, reportedly linked to his decision to axe Clarkson.

The Guardian

In his memoir, Kyle reportedly described killing as "fun", something he "loved"; he was unwavering in his belief that everyone he shot was a "bad guy".

The Guardian - Opinion

There was One North's £15bn transport infrastructure plan, including a high-speed rail link, "HS-3", from Manchester to Leeds – reportedly even more extravagant than the proposed high speed rail link, HS2.

The Guardian

Lowe, unaware of the storm about to break above his head, reportedly turned to a friend and said "Damn!

The Guardian - Film

He was bundled out of office soon after New Labour came to power, reportedly because he and Cherie Blair did not see eye to eye.

The Guardian - Opinion

Prince Ali – who has the support of most European associations – reportedly believes that voters could switch sides and get behind him in a second round, once they see that Blatter is not set to win by a landslide.

The Guardian - Sport

The 50-year-old and his partner Veronica Ojeda were taken to hospital after the car he was driving reportedly hit a bus, hours before Argentina's Copa América win against Costa Rica.

The Guardian - Sport

The foreign affairs ministers had reportedly said they would not actively search for the migrants but on Thursday Malaysia's premier, Najib Razak, ordered the navy and maritime officials to launch a search-and-rescue mission for the boat people.

The Guardian

The 23-second film shows Zambrano-Montes chased across the street by three officers, after he had reportedly been throwing rocks at traffic on a busy intersection.

The Guardian

In 2010, Wood made reportedly the largest ever single political donation in Australian history, giving the Green party A$1.6m £1mm) to enable it to mount a prime-time TV advertising campaign.

The Guardian

The girls reportedly filmed the video to promote dancehall classes at a local school, Art Dance, and a photograph from the shoot on Radetskaya's social network page listed the times that the class meets.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reportedly" to distance yourself from the information, indicating that you're relaying information without endorsing it. This is especially useful when the information is unconfirmed or potentially controversial.

Common error

Avoid using "reportedly" excessively in your writing. Overusing it can make your writing sound hesitant or undermine your credibility. Vary your language with alternatives like "allegedly" or "supposedly" to maintain a strong and confident tone.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "reportedly" functions as a disclaimer of certainty. It indicates that a statement is based on information received from another source, without the speaker or writer confirming its accuracy. Ludwig's examples show it frequently used in news reporting.

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, "reportedly" is a versatile adverb used to attribute information to an external source without endorsing its accuracy. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its common usage, particularly in news and media contexts. When using "reportedly", remember to avoid overuse and consider alternative phrases like "allegedly" or "supposedly" to enhance your writing's nuance and credibility. Its neutral register makes it suitable for formal and journalistic content, offering a valuable tool for conveying information with appropriate detachment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allegedly

Indicates a statement is made without proof and is being presented as possibly true.

supposedly

Suggests something is believed to be true, but there may be doubts about it.

purportedly

Used when something is claimed to be true, but there's no certainty.

ostensibly

Indicates that something appears to be true, but might not be.

apparently

Implies information is based on what is clearly visible or understood.

by all accounts

Indicates information gathered from multiple sources that seem to agree.

it is said that

A more formal way to introduce information attributed to others.

it is rumored that

Suggests the information is based on informal talk and may not be reliable.

as the story goes

Indicates the information is part of a narrative or tale.

as I understand it

Shows that you are sharing your personal understanding of the information.

FAQs

How can I use "reportedly" in a sentence?

Use "reportedly" to indicate that information comes from a source that may or may not be reliable. For example, "The suspect "reportedly" confessed to the crime."

What is a good alternative to "reportedly"?

Alternatives to "reportedly" include "allegedly", "supposedly", or "ostensibly". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to use "reportedly" or "allegedly"?

"Reportedly" is a more neutral term, simply indicating a report. "Allegedly" is typically used when referring to something unlawful or criminal and suggests a lack of proof.

What does "reportedly" mean?

"Reportedly" means according to reports or rumors. It implies that the information is second-hand and may not be completely accurate or verified.