summarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'summarily' is correct and usable in written English.
It is most commonly used as an adverb and it means 'in a summary manner; briefly and without delay'. Example sentence: The judge summarily dismissed the jury's verdict.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Suggestions that the commission should drop its quasi-independent status and sit within government instead are also summarily dismissed.

The Guardian

With Labour defeated, and the stone's promises summarily rejected, newspapers were offering rewards including a case of champagne in return for news of the tablet's whereabouts.

The Guardian

Since he summarily left the project uncompleted four years ago he has become a kind of Grotowski of architecture, both in Australia and abroad, a mystical figure known only by a chosen few and thought by the rest as either an overly temperamental genius or a charlatan who could not finish what he had begun.

The Guardian - Arts

In a review of a filmed version of one of his plays, Pauline Kael argued that all criticism of Miller's artistic work is summarily dismissed as right-wing elitism.

The Guardian

As with another Gove scheme for a single exam board, and his ludicrously prescriptive first draft of the history curriculum, the O-level idea was summarily dropped.

The Guardian

Only a couple of decades ago, slum and pavement dwellers could be evicted summarily because they were seen as encroachers.

The Guardian

Although Cameron summarily rejected this demand when it was first put forward by the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, late last year, Robertson says the SNP will press ahead with its "double lock" proposal.

The Guardian

Under curfew the stadium began filling with Pinochet's prisoners: some were summarily shot, others were sent to concentration camps in the Atacama deserts of the north or the frigid sub-Antarctic south.

The Guardian

In an average evening's viewing we are likely to witness several parts and projects for which we never got seen, or if we did, were summarily discarded.

The Guardian

"It creates the opportunity for his opponents to offer faux support, even as they remind voters he's under indictments … I think it's unlikely that he can ride it out unless something happens and it's summarily dealt with in his favour".

The Guardian

May 1989: Polly Peck financial controller Vi Jensen, who has been working on ways to improve the group's management of funds, is summarily dismissed, allegedly on Nadir's instructions.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "summarily" to convey a sense of swiftness combined with a lack of due process or formality. Ensure the context supports this nuance to avoid misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "summarily" when you simply mean "quickly" or "immediately". "Summarily" implies that procedures or formalities were bypassed or ignored, not just that something happened fast.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "summarily" functions to modify verbs, indicating that an action is carried out swiftly and often without the usual formalities or due process. Ludwig examples confirm its use in describing dismissals, rejections, and other decisive actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "summarily" is an adverb used to describe actions performed swiftly and without the usual formalities or due process. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and most frequently appears in news and media sources, as well as formal business contexts. When using "summarily", remember to convey a sense of speed combined with a lack of due process, and avoid confusing it with simple adverbs of speed. Related phrases include "immediately" and "instantly", although these lack the nuanced implication of bypassed procedures found in "summarily".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately

Emphasizes the lack of delay in an action, differing from "summarily's" implication of a lack of formality.

instantly

Focuses on the speed of the action, without necessarily implying a disregard for protocol.

promptly

Highlights the quick and efficient nature of the action, but lacks the nuance of a lack of due process.

expeditiously

Stresses speed and efficiency, but does not suggest a lack of formality or justice.

hastily

Implies speed and sometimes carelessness, whereas "summarily" suggests a more deliberate, though rapid, action.

quickly

A general term for speed, lacking the specific connotations of "summarily".

without delay

Emphasizes the absence of waiting, differing slightly from the authoritative nature of "summarily".

peremptorily

Highlights the decisive and authoritative nature, but doesn't necessarily imply speed.

in short order

An idiomatic phrase implying swift action, but lacking the formal or legalistic undertones of "summarily".

straightaway

Focuses on the directness and immediacy of the action, with less emphasis on procedural shortcuts.

FAQs

How is "summarily" used in legal or formal contexts?

"Summarily" often appears in legal and formal discussions to describe actions taken swiftly and without the usual procedures, such as a "summarily dismissed" case or a "summarily executed" order.

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

"Immediately" indicates speed and a lack of delay, while "summarily" suggests that something is done quickly and often without the usual formalities or due process. A decision might be made immediately, but an action is taken summarily if standard procedures are bypassed.

What are some situations where using "summarily" might be inappropriate?

Avoid using "summarily" in contexts where speed is the only factor and due process is not relevant. For instance, saying someone "summarily ate" their lunch is incorrect; "quickly ate" would be more appropriate.

What can I say instead of "summarily" to emphasize speed without implying a lack of due process?

Consider using alternatives like "promptly", "expeditiously", or "swiftly" to highlight the speed of an action without suggesting procedural shortcuts.