truly even

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "truly even" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize a point or contrast, but it is not commonly accepted. Example: "I thought I understood the concept, but the explanation was truly even more complex than I anticipated."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"Others deemed me truly, even dangerously insane".

The New York Times - Books

If Sarah beats some donkey she owns, I have spoken truly even if she owns others she fails to beat.

SEP

However, their critics remain unconvinced that they have truly even recognized this pitfall, let alone successfully avoided it (Slezak, 1993, 1995; Thomas, 1999b, 2002, 2003, 2009; Pylyshyn, 2002a,b, 2003a,b,c, 2004, 2007).

SEP

If there's truly even a mote of educational value there it must be weighed against the obvious negative of repetitious product placement simultaneously and directly promoting junk food to kids.

TechCrunch

If some '68 Camaro driving guy owns and uses an eight-track player, I have spoken truly even if he owns other eight track players that aren't used.[23] Here again, Neale's theory predicts that this sentence has a reading on which its truth requires that some woman beats every donkey she owns.

SEP

On the latter reading, for example, we can utter (5) truly even if we know that the coin is weighted, but we aren't sure in which way. (6) can express a moral imperative: you are obliged morally to eat a piece of cake.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In an election that was truly even-money, you'd expect Mr. Romney to be leading in more of the Florida polls rather than the other way around.

The New York Times

Yet paradoxically, if the Corporation were to be truly even-handed in its coverage, Conservative politicians and the right-wing press would be the first to complain.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The audience was truly delighted, even thrilled.

The New York Times

I truly cannot even explain it to myself. . . .

The New Yorker

Marie is truly generous, even a bit naïve.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "truly even", ensure the context benefits from the added emphasis, as it can sometimes sound redundant or forced. Consider alternative phrasing for smoother expression.

Common error

Avoid using "truly even" in formal contexts where clarity and precision are paramount. It can be perceived as imprecise or colloquial, undermining the credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial intensifier. "Truly even" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase to intensify the adjective or verb it modifies. The examples from Ludwig show it used to emphasize the degree or extent of a quality or action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "truly even" functions as an adverbial intensifier, adding emphasis to the statement it modifies. While it appears in various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias, it's not considered standard English and is flagged by Ludwig as "acceptable", suggesting caution in formal usage. Its purpose is to reinforce sincerity or validity, aiming to persuade or convince. Alternative phrases like ""genuinely even"" or ""actually even"" may offer smoother expressions in certain contexts. Therefore, while "truly even" can effectively add emphasis, writers should be mindful of the context and consider alternatives for clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely even

Replaces "truly" with "genuinely" to soften the tone.

actually even

Uses "actually" for a more factual or realistic emphasis.

really even

Employs "really" for a less formal intensification.

in fact even

Introduces a sense of factual addition with "in fact".

indeed even

Uses "indeed" to convey a stronger affirmation.

certainly even

Emphasizes the certainty of the statement.

veritably even

Offers a more archaic and formal way to say "truly".

honestly even

Indicates sincerity and frankness.

unquestionably even

Asserts that something is beyond doubt.

undeniably even

Highlights the irrefutable nature of the statement.

FAQs

What does "truly even" mean?

The phrase "truly even" is used to emphasize the truth or validity of a statement, often adding an element of surprise or unexpectedness. It suggests that something is not just true, but remarkably so.

How can I use "truly even" in a sentence?

You can use "truly even" to reinforce an adjective or verb. For instance, "The experience was "truly even amazing"," or "He seemed "truly even surprised" by the news."

Are there alternatives to "truly even"?

Yes, alternatives include "genuinely even", "actually even", or "really even", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "truly even" grammatically correct?

While "truly even" is not considered standard English and might raise eyebrows in formal writing, it's often used in informal contexts to add emphasis. Ludwig AI marks this usage as acceptable.