starkly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'starkly' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adverb used to describe something as being extremely or very noticeable. Example sentence: The difference between the two candidates was starkly evident in the debate.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

The Economist

The Guardian

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

History has led to starkly different attitudes in different countries.

The Guardian - Tech

That's one disturbing lesson which Friday morning's election map starkly illustrated: mostly yellow in Scotland, blue in England.

The Guardian

Palestinians (who make up 37% of the population) and Jews not only speak different languages but adhere to starkly opposed narratives, each fervidly convinced its grievances are greater.

The Economist

A few weeks after the tsunami, some branches of the French-based Médecins Sans Frontières admitted starkly that they could not handle any more donations.

The Economist

And if he is such a centrist, how can he subscribe, as he seemed to in Bournemouth, to a Manichean vision of a Britain divided starkly between conservatives and "progressives"?Mr Blair wants to make sense of these contradictions by claiming that Tories of the Clarke and Heseltine sort are eminently reasonable, but that in Blackpool the rest of the Tories swerved to the extreme right.

The Economist

The disproportionate power of the executive to stifle debate is a widely recognised shortcoming of the Dáil, most starkly illustrated by Kenny's recent refusal to permit a free vote among his party colleagues on the contentious matter of abortion.

The Guardian - Opinion

International disarray over the crisis was starkly underlined by Kofi Annan's resignation as international envoy on Syria, or "mission impossible" as he called it.

The Guardian

But most starkly of all, the SNP with 1.4m votes now has 56 members of parliament – at 25,000 votes a shot.

The Guardian - Opinion

With the obvious exception of starkly different attitudes to corruption, the two men's leadership style does not appear to be dissimilar.

The Guardian

The attacks starkly underline an increasing gulf between secular bloggers and conservative Islamic groups, often covertly connected with Islamist parties.

The Guardian

Australia's new view is starkly at odds with the true status of east Jerusalem under international law.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "starkly" when describing visual elements or situations where the contrast is immediately apparent. This will enhance the reader's understanding and create a more vivid image.

Common error

Avoid using "starkly" when the contrast is not truly significant. Overusing this adverb can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic. Choose a milder adverb if the difference is subtle.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "starkly" functions primarily to intensify and emphasize a contrast or difference, highlighting a clear and noticeable distinction. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts to underscore significant differences, creating a vivid impact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

The Economist

30%

The Guardian

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "starkly" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverb that emphasizes a strong contrast or difference. As confirmed by Ludwig, its primary function is to highlight significant distinctions across various contexts, particularly in news and media. To enhance your writing, use "starkly" to underscore immediately apparent differences and avoid overuse in subtle contexts. Consider alternatives like "distinctly" or "clearly" for nuanced expression. This comprehensive analysis, incorporating usage guidelines and common errors, is intended to help writers wield "starkly" with precision and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distinctly

Emphasizes clarity and recognizability, highlighting a clear separation or difference.

clearly

Focuses on the ease of understanding or perceiving something, suggesting a lack of ambiguity.

sharply

Implies a sudden and significant difference or contrast, often with a sense of intensity.

markedly

Indicates a noticeable or significant degree of difference, suggesting a clear change or distinction.

obviously

Suggests that something is easily apparent or evident, leaving little room for doubt.

plainly

Highlights the simplicity and directness of a statement or situation, making it easy to understand.

unmistakably

Conveys a sense of certainty and leaves no room for error in identifying something.

patently

Similar to 'obviously', suggesting that something is easily recognizable and undeniable.

noticeably

Emphasizes that something is easily observed or detected, indicating a clear change or difference.

conspicuously

Highlights the visibility and prominence of something, making it easily noticeable.

FAQs

How to use "starkly" in a sentence?

"Starkly" is an adverb that can be used to emphasize a sharp contrast or difference. For example: "The dark mountains stood out "starkly" against the pale sky."

What can I say instead of "starkly"?

You can use alternatives like "distinctly", "clearly", or "sharply" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "starkly different" or "stark difference"?

"Starkly different" is the correct usage, as "starkly" is an adverb modifying the adjective "different". "Stark difference" is grammatically correct but less common; "stark" functions as an adjective there.

What's the difference between "starkly" and "obviously"?

"Starkly" emphasizes a sharp contrast or distinctness, while "obviously" indicates something is easily apparent or evident. "Starkly" focuses on the degree of difference, while "obviously" focuses on the ease of perception.