to allegedly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to allegedly" is not correct in standard written English.
The word "allegedly" is an adverb and should be used to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb, not as part of an infinitive phrase. Example: "The suspect allegedly committed the crime last night."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Entries for economics have plummeted, as many pupils have switched to (allegedly easier) business studies.

The Economist

Ladies who followed the Fein/Schneider road to allegedly greener pastures were dubbed "Rules Girls".

The New Yorker

"It raises questions about his judgment and who he will bring with him to allegedly clean up Albany".

The New York Times

These include alleged infringers, and those who have "allowed" others to use their access to the internet to allegedly infringe.

The Guardian - Tech

Authorities have not said what information Karen Sypher might have been trying to use to allegedly extort Pitino.

The New York Times

US healthcare providers are suing the firm, claiming they spent money on Nexium due to allegedly "deceptive" marketing.

The Guardian - Business

There have been bitter objections to allegedly partisan or frivolous complaints which have not resulted in serious charges.

The Guardian

"Within hours, it was all over the BBC and news outlets that these related to allegedly sexual abuse against children by Kids Company.

Independent

Jerusalem police officers caught the man after an undercover policeman – posing as a potential buyer – met with the suspect several times to allegedly arrange the sale.

Independent

His workload has diminished in recent months to, allegedly, as little as two or three hours a day; for a profoundly conscientious man, that wouldn't be enough.

Independent

Other tribunal allegations relate to allegedly "extreme" statements made by Mrs Schofield, a lawyer, about the Judicial Services Act and the principle of judicial independence.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "to allegedly". Instead, place "allegedly" directly before the verb it modifies. For instance, instead of "to allegedly commit a crime", write "allegedly to commit a crime" or "is alleged to have committed a crime."

Common error

Don't use "to allegedly" as a shortcut for indicating uncertainty or allegation. Instead, focus on correctly positioning the adverb "allegedly" so that it modifies the verb, adjective, or adverb it is intended to modify. Ensure that your sentences remain grammatically sound and precise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to allegedly" functions incorrectly as an infinitive with a misplaced adverb. The adverb "allegedly" should modify the verb directly, not be part of the infinitive phrase. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction violates standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

16%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "to allegedly" appears frequently, especially in news and media, it's crucial to recognize that it's grammatically incorrect. The adverb "allegedly" should directly modify the verb, not be part of an infinitive phrase. Ludwig AI confirms this. Correct alternatives include placing "allegedly" before the verb or rephrasing the sentence entirely. Despite its common usage, prioritize grammatical accuracy by using "allegedly" correctly or choosing alternatives like "supposedly to" or "reportedly to". By avoiding this incorrect construction, you enhance the clarity and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allegedly

Replaces the entire phrase with the single adverb, correctly modifying the verb.

supposedly to

Uses "supposedly" as an adverb to modify the infinitive "to", creating a grammatically sound alternative.

reportedly to

Uses "reportedly" as an adverb to modify the infinitive "to", conveying that information comes from reports.

alleged to

Uses "alleged" as adjective to modify the infinitive "to", creating a grammatically sound alternative.

purportedly to

Uses "purportedly" as an adverb to modify the infinitive "to", indicating the action is claimed but not proven.

ostensibly to

Uses "ostensibly" as an adverb to modify the infinitive "to", suggesting a stated but perhaps not actual reason.

according to allegations to

Rephrases to explicitly state that actions are based on allegations.

as claimed to

Emphasizes that the action is based on a claim, which may not be factual.

as purported to

Indicates the action is based on what is purported or claimed, often implying doubt.

it is alleged to

Presents the information as an allegation, distancing the speaker from the claim.

FAQs

What's wrong with using "to allegedly" in a sentence?

The phrase "to allegedly" is grammatically incorrect. "Allegedly" is an adverb and should modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb directly. Using it within an infinitive phrase like "to allegedly" misplaces the modifier.

How can I correctly use "allegedly" in a sentence?

Place "allegedly" directly before the verb it modifies. For example, instead of "He was to allegedly commit the crime", write "He allegedly committed the crime" or "He is alleged to have committed the crime".

What are some alternatives to "to allegedly" that I can use?

Alternatives include using "supposedly to", "reportedly to", or rephrasing the sentence to use "allegedly" correctly. For example, instead of "He was to allegedly do it", you could say "He supposedly did it".

Is there a difference in meaning between "allegedly" and "reportedly"?

Both "allegedly" and "reportedly" indicate that a statement is based on someone else's claim. "Allegedly" often implies that there is an ongoing investigation or legal process, whereas "reportedly" simply means that something has been reported, without necessarily implying legal action.