very shortly

USAGE SUMMARY

"very shortly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase to express that a certain event or occurrence is expected to happen soon. For example: "We will be finishing up our presentation very shortly, so please bear with us for a few more minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

VERY shortly".

Independent

The race gets underway very shortly.

The Guardian - Sport

Carlton will be dealt with very shortly".

Independent

hope of returning very shortly to Mandalay.

Cornell University

THE PRESIDENT: Very shortly there afterward.

The New York Times

"I think we will know very shortly.

The Guardian

We'll be announcing some very shortly.

The New York Times

Team news to follow very shortly.

The Guardian - Sport

Play will get under way: very shortly.

The Guardian - Sport

(1) Yeah, we're wrapping up very shortly.

The Guardian - Film

We will get you those unofficial results very shortly.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very shortly" to indicate an event will occur in the immediate future. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

If you know the exact time something will happen, it is better to state the specific time rather than using the less precise "very shortly". For example, instead of saying "The meeting will begin very shortly", say "The meeting will begin in five minutes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very shortly" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically indicating when an action or event will take place. It modifies verbs or clauses to specify the time frame, signifying an imminent occurrence as demonstrated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very shortly" serves as an effective adverbial phrase to denote that an event will occur in the immediate future. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media and Academic contexts. While versatile, avoid using it when a precise timeframe is known. For more formal situations, consider using "in the near future", but for casual settings, "in a bit" or "any minute now" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

momentarily

Indicates that something will happen in a very short amount of time.

before long

Similar to "very shortly", it indicates that an event will occur relatively soon.

in a moment

Implies an immediate action or event that will transpire almost instantaneously.

in a little while

This alternative uses a more casual tone and emphasizes the brief passage of time before the event.

any minute now

This suggests the event is imminent and could happen at any moment.

in the near future

This is a more formal way of saying something will happen soon, emphasizing the proximity in time.

presently

This is a slightly more formal way to indicate something will happen soon.

in due course

This phrase suggests that something will happen at the appropriate time without undue delay, adding a sense of order or expectation.

coming soon

This phrase is often used to announce an upcoming event or product release.

right away

This implies immediate action, perhaps more urgent than "very shortly".

FAQs

How can I use "very shortly" in a sentence?

"Very shortly" is typically used to indicate that something will happen soon. For example, "The presentation will begin very shortly" or "We will be arriving very shortly".

What's a more formal alternative to "very shortly"?

A more formal alternative to "very shortly" could be "in the near future", which conveys a similar meaning but with a slightly elevated tone.

Is there a difference between "very shortly" and "shortly"?

The addition of "very" intensifies the sense of immediacy. While "shortly" implies something will happen soon, "very shortly" suggests it will happen even sooner.

What are some informal alternatives to "very shortly"?

Some informal alternatives to "very shortly" include "in a bit", "in a moment", or "any minute now", which can be suitable for casual conversations.