When learning or improving your English, it’s pretty normal to run into words that sound similar or have similar spellings. It’s like a little word puzzle, right? Sometimes, just one letter can change the whole game. This is the case with the two words you’re curious about.
When you are writing, you might wonder if you should use "completely" or "completly." Let me help you solve this puzzle with a straightforward explanation.
The correct spelling is completely. The word ‘completely’ is an adverb, meaning fully or entirely. The misspelling ‘completly’ is a common error due to the way the word sounds when spoken quickly.
For example, you might say, “He was completely surprised by the party.” This shows that the surprise was total, with no partial feelings. Always remember to double-check your spelling to ensure clarity in your communication.
Which Spelling is Correct?
First things first, the right spelling for the word is "completely." The other spelling, "completly," is a common mistake, but it’s not correct. You can think of it like choosing the right key for a lock. "Completely" is your perfect match to unlock the right usage!
Why the Confusion?
You might think, why do people even get confused with this? It’s usually because of how we say words out loud. When we speak quickly, it can sometimes sound like the ‘e’ in the middle of "completely" isn’t there. It’s like when you’re running to catch a bus and your scarf flaps behind you—sometimes parts of our words get left behind in our hurry!
Using “Completely” in Sentences
To understand better how to use "completely," let’s look at some examples. Think of each sentence like a picture at an art show; each one shows a different scene or idea.
- I am completely sure that you’ll love this movie.
- She cleaned her room completely before her mom arrived.
- The book was completely different from what I expected.
In these sentences, "completely" works as an adverb. It’s giving us more info on how sure someone is, or how thoroughly a room was cleaned.
Rules Are Friends!
Why doesn’t "completly" work? In English, we have rules, and one of those is about adjectives turning into adverbs. Most of the time, to change an adjective to an adverb, you add ‘-ly’ to the end of the adjective. For example, "absolute" becomes "absolutely" and "perfect" becomes "perfectly." So, "complete" (which is an adjective) becomes "completely" not "completly." It’s like adding wheels to a car; without them, it just won’t go!
Quick Tricks to Remember
Here’s a little trick to help you remember the correct spelling. Think about the word "complete." Now, imagine that the letter ‘e’ at the end of "complete" is so excited to turn the word into an adverb that it jumps right over the ‘t’ and brings along another ‘e’ to help out. Thus, forming "completely."
Also, why not picture the extra ‘e’ as an extra energy boost? Just like how eating a complete meal gives you all the nutrients you need, adding the extra ‘e’ completes the word and gives it a whole new role.
Practice Makes Perfect
You know the saying, "practice makes perfect"? Why not apply that here? Try writing a few sentences using "completely" each day. Or, listen to conversations in English films and shows and take note when you hear "completely." It’s like detective work, but for words!
Remember, if you ever feel stuck, you can always look words up in a dictionary or online. It’s a great tool, just like a map that guides you through unfamiliar streets.
There you have it! The mystery about "completely" versus "completly" is solved. Keep practicing and using your new knowledge in your writing and speaking. Words are like keys—they unlock all sorts of doors in communication. By understanding them better, you’re on your way to becoming even more skilled in English.
