severally

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'severally' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe two or more persons or things considered separately, one after another. For example, "The subjects were tested severally for their knowledge of the laws."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Senior officials said the EC so far has no preference among the three options for issuing "stability bonds" outlined: those issued at eurozone level "jointly and severally", those issued both at national and supra-national level with joint and several guarantees, and those issued at national level just severally.

The Guardian - Business

They're competing with each other, severally and individually.

The Economist

Hence the idea, slightly related to the rediscovered sterling qualities of beer, that the modern pub should promote itself as a haven of safe and regulated drinking, away from the dangers of uncontrolled home and unpoliced street, where the landlord is vicar, squire and copper together, the shepherd of his flock.All these notions, severally and together, may help pubs to survive.

The Economist

France's "SCAs" or Sociétés en Commandite par Actions have two tiers of partners: general ones jointly and severally liable for a company's debts, and limited partners who are ordinary shareholders with little power and who can lose only what they invest.

The Economist

The alternative to a bigger EFSF would be the issuance of Eurobonds that are jointly and severally underwritten by euro-zone members.

The Economist

Unfortunately, a proliferating patchwork of bilateral deals is exactly what is now taking shape.Members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations are working on a free-trade deal with China, and they are jointly and severally negotiating free-trade deals with other outsiders, including in Singapore's case the United States (see article).

The Economist

In a partnership, members "associate," forming collectively an association in which they all participate in management and sharing profits, bearing the liability for the firm's debts and being sued jointly and severally in relation to the firm's contracts or tortious acts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

No pair of shoes is worth that!" While you cannot be made to pay your partner's debts, if you have any joint finances such as a mortgage, loan, or even a bank account with an overdraft, you need to be aware the lender will consider you both "jointly and severally responsible".

Independent

If you're buying something costing more than £100 and less than £30,000, under  section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act the credit-card company is considered "jointly and severally liable to the debtor" if something goes wrong.

Independent

One death sentence in England called for the condemned to be "drawn on a hurdle to the place of execution, where you shall be hanged by the necks, not till you are dead; that you be severally taken down, while yet alive, and your bowels be taken out and burnt before your faces — that your heads be then cut off, and your bodies cut in four quarters".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

asked Norman Lebrecht in his severally-reprinted book (Faber), which sparked lively fury and debate – rare for a book on music.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "severally" to clearly indicate that multiple entities are responsible or affected individually, especially in legal or formal contexts where precision is crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "severally" when you mean "jointly". "Severally" implies individual responsibility, while "jointly" means shared responsibility. Confusing these can have significant legal and financial consequences.

Linguistic Context

The word "severally" primarily functions as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that actions or states are performed or exist separately, individually, or distinctly. As noted by Ludwig AI, the term indicates persons or things considered separately.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "severally" is a versatile adverb that conveys the idea of separation or individuality in action or consideration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various domains. The analysis reveals its prevalence in news, scientific, and encyclopedia contexts. When writing, remember to use "severally" to indicate distinct responsibilities or actions, avoiding confusion with "jointly". By understanding its nuances and context, you can effectively incorporate "severally" into your writing for clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

separately

Indicates distinctness and lack of combination in action or consideration.

individually

Emphasizes the focus on each member of a group or set, considered one by one.

singly

Highlights the single or isolated nature of an item or action.

one by one

Stresses the sequential and distinct handling of multiple items or individuals.

independently

Indicates a lack of reliance or connection between actions or entities.

respectively

Specifies a correspondence between items in two or more lists.

on an individual basis

Focuses on the customized or particular treatment of each person or item.

in isolation

Highlights the state of being alone or detached from others.

discretely

Emphasizes the separateness and often the confidentiality of actions.

severed

Highlights a termination of a relationship between two objects.

FAQs

How to use "severally" in a sentence?

Use "severally" to indicate that items or people are considered or treated separately and individually. For example, "The defendants were "held severally liable" for the damages".

What can I say instead of "severally"?

You can use alternatives like "separately", "individually", or "respectively" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "jointly and severally" or "jointly or severally"?

"Jointly and severally" is the standard legal phrase, meaning each party is responsible both as a group and individually. "Jointly or severally" isn't typically used, as it implies a choice between the two types of liability.

What's the difference between "severally" and "individually"?

While similar, "severally" often carries a more formal or legal connotation, emphasizing the separate nature of obligations or responsibilities. "Individually" is more general and can apply to a broader range of contexts.