strictly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'strictly' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that something must be done in a certain way and no other way. For example, "This policy is strictly to be adhered to at all times."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's not strictly true.

The Guardian - Film

Someone providing their opinion is not, strictly speaking, consenting to their personal data being published under this particular piece of law.

The Guardian - Opinion

Zero-hours contracts, which offer workers few or no guaranteed hours, will be more strictly limited.

The Guardian

Banished beat charity dance show, The People's Strictly for Comic Relief, which had 3.1 million viewers (14.6%) at the same time on BBC1, and ITV's nostalgia fest The Nation's Favourite '70s Number One, which had 3.1 million viewers (13.6%) between 8.30pm and 10pm.

The Guardian

Three cups of tea is strictly three cups of water from now on!

The Guardian

This is a strictly unilateral assault, a grand act of persecution.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Wayne's creative leadership across international businesses and his pedigree in entertainment production need little introduction," said Andrea Wong, president of international production at SPT. Garvie, who will take up his new role in June, first met Wong when he worked at BBC Worldwide and was pitching Strictly Come Dancing in the US.

The Guardian

Not strictly a freshers week issue – I mean, come on, you've only just met, and contrary to grumpy belief, university isn't just lectures sparsely punctuating epic sex marathons – but it would have been great if someone had mentioned the "pee after sex" rule before the massive cystitis outbreak in our college dorm.

The Guardian

Insisting that Lib Dems would stick strictly to the coalition deal, Cable said health service reforms went "some way beyond" what was agreement and was going to be a major issue "as we go forward".

The Guardian

Except here one of the friends gets turned into a monstrous succubus and starts eating her way – on a monthly, and Cody affirms, not strictly LUNAR, schedule – through the full gamut of high school boy stereotypes: pierced goth kid, offensive linebacker, wannabe ladies man etc.

The Guardian - Film

Yet it's clear from even the most cursory reading – or even not reading and just looking at the pictures – that the earlier autobiographies were intended as fantasy-pornography rather than strictly documentary material.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strictly" to clearly define the boundaries of a rule, regulation, or interpretation, ensuring that there's no room for misinterpretation. For example, "These guidelines are to be strictly followed to ensure project success."

Common error

Avoid pairing "strictly" with verbs that inherently imply strictness. Saying "strictly enforce" is often redundant; "enforce" already suggests a rigorous application.

How to use

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

How to use

Linguistic Context

The adverb "strictly" functions primarily as a modifier, adding precision and limitation to the verb or adjective it accompanies. It denotes a condition that must be adhered to without deviation, reflecting Ludwig AI's assessment of grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "strictly" is a valuable tool for emphasizing precision and adherence to rules or limitations. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct and it's commonly used across various contexts. Primarily found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science, "strictly" serves to eliminate ambiguity and reinforce the importance of precise adherence. When using "strictly", consider alternatives like "precisely" or "rigidly" to add nuance to your writing. Remember to avoid overuse with inherently strict verbs to maintain clarity and impact. Therefore, using the adverb "strictly" makes a great emphasis when highlighting rules and limitations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

precisely

Focuses on exactness and accuracy, similar to "strictly" in conveying a high degree of precision.

rigidly

Emphasizes adherence to rules without deviation, mirroring "strictly" in a context of enforcement.

stringently

Highlights the severity or intensity of enforcement, akin to "strictly" when rules are rigorously applied.

exclusively

Indicates limitation to a specific case or group, paralleling "strictly" in terms of exclusivity.

purely

Signifies freedom from extraneous elements, comparable to "strictly" in contexts requiring unadulterated adherence.

solely

Stresses the uniqueness or singularity of a condition or action, like "strictly" when something applies in one case only.

definitely

Conveys certainty without doubt, aligning with "strictly" in emphasizing a firm condition.

in a limited sense

Clarifies the scope and constraint of an application, analogous to "strictly" when qualifying the range of a statement.

in a precise manner

Describes the way of performing something in accurate way, similarly to "strictly".

with no exceptions

Highlights that a certain rule or condition cannot be eluded, just like "strictly".

FAQs

How can I use "strictly" in a sentence?

You can use "strictly" to emphasize adherence to a rule or limitation. For example, "The event is "strictly for" members only" or "The data is "strictly confidential"".

What can I say instead of "strictly"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "precisely", "rigidly", or "exclusively".

When is it appropriate to use "strictly speaking"?

"Strictly speaking" is used to introduce a more precise or accurate statement, often correcting a previous generalization or simplification. For example, "He's a resident, but "strictly speaking", he hasn't been here long enough to vote".

Which is correct, "strictly necessary" or "absolutely necessary"?

Both "strictly necessary" and "absolutely necessary" are correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Strictly necessary" implies that something is essential and cannot be avoided under any circumstances, while "absolutely necessary" emphasizes the importance or urgency of something. You can find more examples for "absolutely necessary" here.