straight away

USAGE SUMMARY

"straight away" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean "immediately" or "at once." For example: "I will do it straight away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We knew straight away.

Independent

Serve straight away.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It happened straight away".

Independent

It was brilliant straight away.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I rang universities straight away.

Independent

Should they discipline straight away?

Independent

She recognised Anna straight away.

The Guardian

Another straight away, please.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Brillinger accepted straight away.

The Guardian

Enjoy straight away.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There's that, straight away.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "straight away" to emphasize the immediacy of an action, especially when giving instructions or narrating events.

Common error

While "straight away" is widely understood, consider using more formal alternatives like "immediately" or "at once" in academic or professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "straight away" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the timing of an action. It specifies that the action occurs immediately, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Wiki

22%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "straight away" is a common adverbial phrase used to indicate that something happens immediately or without delay. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. While generally acceptable in most contexts, including news and informal writing, more formal alternatives like "immediately" or "at once" might be preferred in academic or professional settings. When using "straight away", remember that the goal is to emphasize the promptness of an action. It's important to avoid overusing it in highly formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately

Replaces a two-word phrase with a single adverb conveying the same meaning of instant action.

at once

A slightly more formal synonym, indicating immediate action or response.

right away

An American English variant expressing the same sense of immediacy.

instantly

Similar to immediately, but emphasizing the lack of any time delay.

without delay

A more descriptive phrase emphasizing the absence of any waiting period.

forthwith

A more formal and somewhat archaic synonym for immediately.

promptly

Emphasizes the quickness and readiness of the action.

directly

Suggests an immediate and unhesitating action.

presently

Implies an action will occur very soon, though not necessarily instantaneously.

in a jiffy

An informal idiom conveying a sense of speed and quickness.

FAQs

What does "straight away" mean?

The phrase "straight away" means immediately or without delay. It indicates that something will happen or is happening instantly.

How can I use "straight away" in a sentence?

You can use "straight away" to show that an action is performed immediately after something else. For example, "I'll start working on it "straight away"".

What are some alternatives to "straight away"?

Alternatives to "straight away" include "immediately", "at once", "right away", and "instantly".

Is "straight away" formal or informal?

"Straight away" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use alternatives like "immediately" or "without delay".