shortly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "shortly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a short period of time in the near future. For example, "I will arrive shortly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

MPs and peers laughed as Merkel, who recalled her first visit to London in the spring of 1990 shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, said those expecting a "fundamental reform of the European architecture" in Britain's direction would be disappointed.

The Guardian

Clinton first addressed the issue in March, shortly after transparency concerns were raised following reports that she used only a personal email account to conduct government business.

The Guardian

Shortly before the meeting the council issued a statement expressing "grave concern at the continued fighting in and around Debaltseve" and demanded that all parties to the conflict cease hostilities immediately.

The Guardian

Crider suspected that the US, which sent interrogators to interview Mobley shortly after he was detained, is complicit in his apparent disappearance.

The Guardian

The superstar-in-waiting made his Letterman debut shortly after helping the Yankees to their first World Series since 1978.

The Guardian - Sport

The admission came shortly after the only three men to be charged in connection with the suicide bombings were acquitted yesterday.

The Guardian

"It has been a long and emotional trial for me and my family," he said shortly after the ruling.

The Guardian

Mote was suspended from Ukip in 2004, shortly after he was elected, when the party discovered he was facing separate charges for benefit fraud.

The Guardian

She is scheduled to arrive at a rural community college in Monticello, a town of around 4,000, shortly after 1pm local time on Tuesday.

The Guardian

Although Seven was across the road from the Lindt cafe and in the prime position to film the ongoing action, it also had a huge disadvantage as it had to relocate its entire newsroom shortly after the crisis began.

The Guardian

Clegg has made Coppard's job easier, not just by reneging on his pledge not to increase tuition fees but by being in the highest echelons of a government that, shortly after its formation in 2010, cancelled a £80m loan to Sheffield Forgemasters, which the steel company had hoped to use to buy a new forging press for producing nuclear plant components, creating jobs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider "presently" as a slightly more sophisticated alternative to "shortly".

Common error

Avoid using "shortly" when you mean "briefly". "Shortly" refers to a point in time soon after the present, while "briefly" refers to something that is concise or of short duration.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "shortly" is as an adverb of time. Ludwig confirms this through numerous examples where "shortly" modifies verbs, indicating when an action will occur in the near future.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Sport

14%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shortly" functions as an adverb indicating that something will happen in the near future. It enjoys very common usage across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While the term is grammatically correct, according to Ludwig AI, it's important not to confuse it with "briefly", which refers to duration rather than time. When aiming for formal tone, consider "presently" as a viable alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

soon

A more general term indicating nearness in time, lacking the emphasis on brevity that "shortly" sometimes carries.

in a moment

Suggests a very brief delay, often used in casual conversation and implying immediacy comparable with "shortly".

presently

A more formal synonym for "shortly", often used in announcements or official contexts.

before long

Emphasizes the imminence of an event, similar to "shortly" but with a slightly stronger sense of anticipation.

in a little while

More informal and less precise than "shortly", suggesting a brief but indefinite period.

expeditiously

Stresses efficiency and speed, making it suitable for formal contexts where promptness is key.

in due course

Implies that something will happen at an appropriate time, rather than immediately like "shortly".

quickly

Focuses on the speed of an action, rather than the short duration before it happens, which "shortly" implies.

forthwith

A formal term indicating immediacy, suggesting something should happen without any delay unlike "shortly" that indicates the near future.

anon

An archaic term for "shortly" or "soon", rarely used in modern English.

FAQs

How to use "shortly" in a sentence?

"Shortly" is an adverb used to indicate that something will happen in the near future. For example, "The meeting will begin "shortly"."

What can I say instead of "shortly"?

You can use alternatives like "soon", "presently", or "in a little while" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "shortly" or "briefly"?

The correct choice depends on the intended meaning. Use ""shortly"" to indicate something will happen soon. Use "briefly" when referring to something concise or of short duration.

What's the difference between "shortly" and "immediately"?

"Shortly" indicates something will happen in the near future, whereas "immediately" means something will happen without any delay.