Spelling Tips: Definitely or Definately?

Is accurate spelling important? Definitely! Or should that be “definately”? In this post, we’ll explain which of these spellings is correct and why people get this word wrong so often.

What Does Definitely Mean?

“Definitely” is an adverb that means without any doubt or certainly:

He will definitely arrive by 8:30 am.

Cheetahs are definitely faster than snails.

I definitely didn’t eat the last slice of cake.

The word is formed of three parts:

●  de: a Latin prefix, which in this case means completely.

●  finite: meaning bound or limited.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

●  ly: the suffix used to form an adverb from an adjective.

When spelling this word, the crucial part to remember is finite, which is always spelled with two “i”s, and never an “a.”

The Error: Definately

It’s easy to misspell “definitely” as “definately” because the word isn’t pronounced exactly as it’s spelled. The second “i” sounds like “uh” when it’s spoken, so people often wrongly assume that the vowel after the “n” should be an “a.” After all, that’s how we spell a lot of other words with the same sound, such as immediately, accurately, and approximately.

However, if you remove the suffix “ly” from those words, you’re left with the correctly spelled immediate, accurate, and approximate. But you won’t find definate in the dictionary!

Summary: Definitely or Definately?

“Definitely” is an adverb meaning without any doubt. It’s often misspelled as “definately” because when you say definitely, the second “i” doesn’t sound like an “i.” Instead, it sounds like “uh,” and other words with the same sound are usually spelled with an “a” (e.g., accurately).

To avoid making this common spelling mistake, remember that “definitely” contains the word finite (meaning limited), and therefore, it must always have two “i”s.

Unfortunately, you can’t always rely on spell checking software to pick up mistakes in your writing. If you’d like a human proofreader to check your work for typos, misplaced punctuation, and grammatical errors, we can help. Why not send us a free sample to proofread today?

Upload a document

More Writing Tips?

14th May 2024

How to Use Infographics to Boost Your Presentation

Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...

10th May 2024

Why Interactive PDFs Are Better for Engagement

Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...

7th May 2024

Seven Key Strategies for Voice Search Optimization

Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...

26th April 2024

How to Ace Slack Messaging for Contractors and Freelancers

Effective professional communication is an important skill for contractors and freelancers navigating remote work environments....

24th April 2024

How to Insert a Text Box in a Google Doc

Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...

Exit mobile version