successfully not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "successfully not" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize the successful avoidance of something, but it is not commonly used. Example: "She successfully not completed the task on time, which was a relief."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Regions can be targeted successfully, not just countries.

The Guardian

You can cook only parts of a chicken successfully, not the whole.

The New York Times - Books

Ellis's family expected her to marry successfully, not launch out on her own path.

The Guardian - Books

They work most successfully not as politicians, but as a sort of broad-ranging challenge to satire.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ms. Shullman, the young lawyer who started this enterprise, said she applied her study's conclusions successfully not long ago in a bankruptcy hearing.

The New York Times

Historians say Ta Mok survived so successfully not only by crushing rivals but also showing, at least until the mid-1970s, a curious parochialism.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

More disputes may be inevitable; resolving them successfully is not.

The Economist

That's what this law, successfully or not, is trying to untangle.

The New Yorker

They successfully fought not only Wall Street bankers, but a virulent and racist American right.

The Guardian - Opinion

We've evolved to successfully procreate, not to enjoy deathless romance.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I think I successfully did not do that in that lecture; I hope I did.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "successfully not", ensure the context clearly implies the avoidance of a negative outcome or action. Consider alternative phrasings like "managed to avoid" for improved clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "successfully not" when you simply mean "failed". The phrase implies a deliberate effort to not do something, rather than a lack of success in doing it. Ensure that the context reflects this specific intent to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "successfully not" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the manner in which an action is not performed. It suggests a conscious effort to avoid a particular outcome, as illustrated by Ludwig's examples where actions are deliberately averted.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

34%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "successfully not" is a somewhat unconventional construction used to emphasize the successful avoidance of a particular action or outcome. While grammatically acceptable, according to Ludwig AI, it is not a standard phrase and can sometimes cause confusion. It is more common in news, science and academic contexts. For clearer and more direct communication, alternatives such as "managed to avoid", "effectively prevented", or "failed to" are often preferable. As Ludwig's examples demonstrate, the phrase is typically used to highlight intentionality in not performing an action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

managed to avoid

Emphasizes the successful avoidance of an action or situation.

effectively prevented

Highlights the successful prevention of something undesirable.

successfully refrained from

Formally indicates a deliberate decision to abstain from doing something.

skillfully evaded

Suggests adroitness in avoiding a particular outcome or situation.

adeptly circumvented

Indicates cleverness in bypassing or avoiding something.

failed to

Highlights the lack of success in performing a particular action.

did not succeed in

Directly states the absence of success in achieving a goal.

unsuccessfully attempted

Emphasizes the lack of success despite an attempt.

fortunately didn't

Highlights the positive aspect of not having performed some action.

happily missed

Informally conveys the pleasant avoidance of something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the expression "successfully not" for clarity?

You can use alternatives like "managed to avoid", "effectively prevented", or "successfully refrained from depending on the context".

Is it grammatically correct to use the phrase "successfully not"?

While not strictly incorrect, "successfully not" is unconventional. It is better to opt for clearer and more common alternatives like "managed to avoid" or "failed to", depending on your intended meaning.

What's the difference between "successfully not" and "unsuccessfully"?

"Successfully not" implies a deliberate action to avoid something, whereas "unsuccessfully" suggests an attempt was made but failed. For example, "She successfully not revealed the secret" means she intentionally kept it hidden. "She unsuccessfully attempted the task" means she tried but failed.

When is it appropriate to use "successfully not" in a sentence?

Use "successfully not" when you want to emphasize the deliberate avoidance of an action or outcome. However, consider whether alternatives like "managed to avoid" or "refrained from" would provide greater clarity.