unhappily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unhappily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of being unhappy or to indicate that something is done in an unhappy manner. Example: "Unhappily, she had to decline the invitation to the party due to prior commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That the unhappily friendless create their own state of isolation?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Unhappily, in Saudi Arabia, they have not – not yet.

The Guardian

They also want to lay a 300-mile pipeline to bring water from Nevada's sparsely populated north to Las Vegas, a controversial plan some compare to Los Angeles's removal of water from the Owens Valley 100 years ago (as fictionalised in Roman Polanski's "Chinatown").Unhappily for Nevada and Arizona, California's problems are also theirs.

The Economist

Make it flow An unhappily neutral neighbour Huff and puff Can it get together?

The Economist

For a company whose business is marketing and public relations, Omnicom looks unhappily in need of the services it dispenses to others.The saga at Omnicom began after an article in the Wall Street Journal suggested that, while not infringing American accounting standards, the company flattered its accounts.

The Economist

Unhappily for Alcon's shareholders, however, Swiss takeover law does allow bidders to pay one price to controlling shareholders and a lower one to the remainder.

The Economist

In the real world, Germany is being roasted, and risks living unhappily ever after.

The Economist

There were so many hangers-on, said John of Hildesheim, that they could not get lodgings in Jerusalem and had to camp outside, looking like a besieging army.Flustered as the kings were, the great treasure seemed to get forgotten (except for a small golden apple that was once Alexander's, offered by Melchior, which immediately fell to ash because it symbolised, unhappily, Eve's apple in Eden).

The Economist

Spain, in particular, has reason to recall unhappily the flood of foreign investment before the crisis which contributed to its property bubble.Private-equity firms which search out solid companies in need of capital to grow are perhaps the first place to look for Schumpeterian creative destruction.

The Economist

Unhappily, says Mr Beinart, that does not matter, because the organisations are sustained by a small number of rich donors and not accountable to the community.To Mr Beinart, this is a tragedy.

The Economist

That, too, ended unhappily in 1992.Such failures gave birth to a different idea: that monetary authorities should forget the money-supply numbers, unhook themselves from exchange-rate pegs, and take aim at inflation itself.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unhappily" to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous positive statement, creating a balanced perspective. For example: "The project was initially successful; unhappily, unforeseen challenges arose later on."

Common error

Avoid using "unhappily" in casual conversation or informal writing, as it can sound overly formal or dramatic. Opt for simpler alternatives like "sadly" or "unfortunately" in such scenarios.

Linguistic Context

Unhappily functions primarily as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb to express a sense of sadness, misfortune, or regret. As Ludwig points out, it is often used to introduce an unfortunate piece of information or a contrasting situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unhappily" is an adverb used to express sadness, misfortune, or regret. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use in formal writing, especially in news and media. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose simpler alternatives like "unfortunately" or "sadly" in informal settings to avoid sounding overly dramatic. "Unhappily" often introduces a negative statement or contrasts with previous positive information. The primary use case is to convey a sense of disappointment or that things turned out badly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unfortunately

Emphasizes bad luck or adverse circumstances.

Regrettably

Focuses on the feeling of regret about a situation.

Sadly

Highlights the sorrowful aspect of an event.

Alas

Expresses grief or lament.

It is unfortunate that

Introduces a statement with a sense of disappointment.

To my dismay

Highlights the speaker's disappointment or distress.

By ill luck

Underscores the role of bad fortune.

To one's sorrow

Emphasizes the sorrowful outcome.

With regret

Highlights the feeling of regret while conveying information.

It's a pity that

Expresses a sense of sorrow or disappointment over something.

FAQs

How can I use "unhappily" in a sentence?

"Unhappily" is typically used as an adverb to express sadness or misfortune at the beginning of a sentence or to modify a verb. For example: "Unhappily, the event was canceled" or "She lived "lived unhappily" after the incident".

What's a good alternative to "unhappily"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "unfortunately", "sadly", "regrettably", or "alas". The best choice will depend on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "unhappily"?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to start a sentence with "unhappily". This is a common way to introduce a piece of information that is unfortunate or regrettable.

What is the difference between "unhappily" and "sadly"?

While both convey a sense of sorrow, "unhappily" often suggests a sense of misfortune or that things turned out badly. "Sadly", on the other hand, primarily emphasizes the feeling of sadness.