However, time and popular usage has finally worn the zealots down. They were never successful, but they argued none the less. Hopefully, there will be dessert after lunch.Īnd for a long time, strict grammarians argued against this usage. Hopefully, our hypothesis will be confirmed by the experiment. The way we most often use it is to mean ‘it is to be hoped’ or ‘it is hoped’ as our reader indicates. And they are asking about it in a hopeful manner. Here, the children are hoping to go to the toy store this afternoon. “Can we go to the toy store this afternoon?” the children asked hopefully. This is the story: The original meaning of ‘hopefully’ was ‘in a hopeful manner.’ But really, when is the last time you used it to mean that? And a bumpy road it remains, but it’s not as bumpy as it once was. We’ve been down this road before-back in 2008. Is “hopefully” gaining acceptance these days, as another example of the decline of civilization?Īh, yes, hopefully. Another example: “Hopefully we’ll be on time to the party.” The problem is that every alternative to “hopefully” in that context sounds stilted or clunky or both. Hopefully you enjoyed your holidays.Īnd that is my wlut query: “hopefully”-as an adverb-used as a substitute for “it is to be hoped,” or some such phrasing. Posted in can/could/may, hopefully tagged can, could, may at 6:51 am by dlseltzer JanuWeekly Language Usage Tips: Hopefully & may, can, or could
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