respectively

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'respectively' is correct and is often used in written English.
You can use it when you need to list items in the same order that another set of items is listed. For example, "The students' SAT scores were 600, 650, and 700 respectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Business

Tech

World

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Since launching its US and Australia digital editions in 2011 and 2013 respectively, traffic from outside of the UK now represents over two-thirds of the Guardian's total digital audience.

The Guardian

Since launching its US and Australia digital editions in 2011 and 2013 respectively, traffic from outside of the UK now represents around two-thirds of the Guardian's total digital audience.

The Guardian

They were up 205% and 172% respectively on their three-month slot average.

The Guardian

The most likely potential spoilers in American Pharoah's bid for history include Frosted (fourth in the Kentucky Derby) and Materiality (sixth), the second and third favorites at 5-1 and 6-1 respectively, who are superior closers capable of overtaking fading contenders down the stretch.

The Guardian - Sport

Neither member was permitted to take part in the voting for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, won by Russia and Qatar respectively.

The Guardian - Sport

His tally of 486 runs in eight innings in the tournament, at an average of more than 60 and a strike rate of 87, is second only to Glamorgan's Jacques Rudolph, and has included half-centuries in the quarter and semi-final victories over Essex and Kent respectively, as well as two centuries during the group stage.

The Guardian - Sport

Clear chances were few and far between for much of the match and the sides remained seventh and eighth respectively in the table.

The Guardian - Sport

Broadway star Idina Menzel and Will Young both beat off non-musical competition in their categories – best solo performance and best London newcomer respectively – as did jukebox musicals Taboo and American Idiot, voted off-West End and regional shows of the year.

The Guardian

"It will be a no-go area for the public.... assigned consultants and cultural heads will access the site to do their technical work and perform some rituals respectively," he said.

The Guardian

Respectively, (and as of Thursday) that's how many goals the 19 year-old has tallied, how many games he's played, and how many overall points he's notched.

The Guardian - Sport

This week Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova were told they will serve the rest of their two-year terms at women's prison camps in Perm, Siberia, and Mordovia respectively.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "respectively", ensure the lists you are connecting have the same number of items to maintain a one-to-one correspondence.

Common error

Avoid using "respectively" when the lists being compared have different numbers of items. This creates ambiguity and can mislead the reader. Ensure a one-to-one correspondence between the items in each list.

How to use

Learn how to use "respectively" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The word "respectively" functions as an adverb, modifying a clause by specifying that listed items correspond to each other in the order they are presented. This ensures clarity in situations where multiple items are being related to each other, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sport

20%

Business

10%

Less common in

Lifestyle

8%

Tech

5%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "respectively" is a versatile adverb used to establish a clear, ordered correspondence between items in multiple lists. As Ludwig AI highlights, its grammatical correctness and frequent usage make it a valuable tool for precise communication. The examples from Ludwig show that "respectively" is most commonly found in news, sports, and business contexts. To ensure clarity, maintain consistent list lengths and avoid overuse. Alternatives like "in that order" or "correspondingly" can be used depending on the context. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "respectively" to enhance the precision and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in their respective orders

Reiterates the importance of maintaining the specific order for each set of items.

correspondingly

A more formal synonym that highlights the parallel relationship.

as listed

Simple and direct, highlighting that the order matters.

in the order given

Focuses on the order of items without explicitly stating correspondence.

sequentially

Focuses on the order of the items and describes items one after another in a specific order.

in that order

Emphasizes the sequence in which items are presented.

in due order

Implies that each item is considered in its proper sequence.

severally

Highlights the separate and individual nature of the items.

each in turn

Stresses the sequential application or association of items.

as previously mentioned

Links back to an earlier listing of items to establish correspondence.

FAQs

How do I use "respectively" in a sentence?

Use "respectively" to indicate that items in one list correspond to items in another list in the order they are presented. For example: "John and Mary scored 80 and 90 points "respectively"."

What can I say instead of "respectively"?

You can use alternatives like "in that order", "correspondingly", or "in their respective orders" depending on the context and desired level of formality. For example: "The results were announced "in the order given"."

Is it necessary to always use "respectively" when comparing lists?

No, it is not always necessary. If the correspondence is clear from the context, you can omit "respectively". However, it's best to include it when there is a potential for ambiguity or misinterpretation.

Can "respectively" be used with more than two lists?

Yes, "respectively" can be used with more than two lists, as long as the items in each list correspond in the same order. However, using it with too many lists can become confusing, so consider rephrasing for clarity.