vitally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vitally" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to emphasize the importance or necessity of something. Example: "It is vitally important to maintain a balanced diet for overall health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"You may not have been aware just how seriously the woman was injured but it is vitally important we speak to you".

The Guardian

"That is why the work of the Lukuru Foundation is so vitally important," said McPhee.

The Guardian

The suggestion is that for Griffen to want out, something was vitally wrong, particularly because the Bulldogs captain is not the type of player to cause upset within the club – and media specualtion outside it.

The Guardian - Sport

As this sort of technology is being made to gather increasing amounts of data about us, it is vitally important that people should have to choose to make use of these additional services".

The Guardian - Tech

"With all of these situations it's vitally important to get all of the factual information," he said.

The Guardian

He took exception to Southwood's comment that his statement that "our clients remain vitally interested in the outcome of the inquiry" was merely "a device capable of being used to suggest Mr Lawler failed to accord Ms Lawrie procedural fairness".

The Guardian

It is difficult to think of more serious possible misconduct by police officers, who are entrusted with the vitally important and habitually dangerous job of keeping people safe and protecting society from lawbreaking.

The Guardian - Opinion

But as Ed Cox, director of IPPR North, notes, there is still "no actual cash pledge for vitally needed investment in northern transport.

The Guardian

All the scientists I spoke with agreed that spending time together, and having fun, would naturally encourage production of oxytocin and vasopressin (as well as affecting the uptake of vitally important endorphins), no inhalers required.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Two messages that stand out are that economic progress should not be feared as a "zero-sum game" – countries that have for years encouraged economic growth in developing nations should not feel threatened by competition; and, second, that international economic co-operation is vitally important.

The Guardian - Business

Russia, without ever playing football that anybody would describe as thrilling, have won their first four matches, including – vitally – a 1-0 home win over Portugal.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vitally" to emphasize the critical importance of something, especially when its absence or failure would have significant negative consequences. For example: "It is vitally important to address climate change."

Common error

While "vitally" is a strong word to highlight importance, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation. Opt for more relaxed alternatives like "really" or "very" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "vitally" is as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to emphasize the critical or essential nature of an action or quality. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it's often used to stress the importance of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vitally" functions as an adverb to stress the critical importance of something, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news, business, and scientific contexts. While "vitally" is widely accepted, remember to balance its use, especially in informal settings, to maintain a natural tone. Alternatives include "crucially" and "essentially", offering nuanced ways to convey significance. Ludwig AI's analysis and the numerous real-world examples underscore "vitally's" role in effective and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critically

Replaces "vitally" emphasizing the importance to the point where success depends on it.

crucially

Similar to "vitally", but highlights the decisive importance of something.

indispensably

Emphasizes that something is absolutely necessary or essential.

essentially

Focuses on the fundamental and indispensable nature of something, similar to "vitally".

fundamentally

Highlights the basic and central importance, much like "vitally" does.

importantly

A more general alternative, indicating significance but not necessarily critical importance.

imperatively

Emphasizes a command or something of utmost importance.

necessarily

Indicates something that cannot be done without; a requirement.

significantly

A broader term denoting considerable importance or impact.

urgently

Stresses the immediate need or importance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "vitally" in a sentence?

Use "vitally" to emphasize the critical importance of something. For instance, "It is "vitally important" to secure the building before the storm arrives."

What words can I use instead of "vitally"?

You can use alternatives like "crucially", "essentially", or "importantly", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "vitally important"?

Yes, "vitally important" is a common and correct usage. It reinforces the significance of something being discussed. For example, "Access to clean water is "vitally important" for public health."

What's the difference between "vitally" and "very"?

"Vitally" emphasizes a critical or indispensable importance, whereas "very" simply intensifies an adjective. Saying something is "vitally important" implies it is essential, while saying it is "very important" indicates a high degree of importance but not necessarily essential.