The Adverb of Sure: Surely
The adverb of sure is surely.
How surely is formed
The adjective ends in -e, and it stays: sure + ly = surely.
The usual treatment for -e adjectives, as in pure → purely and sincere → sincerely.
Surely in a sentence
| Surely you are not serious? | Expressing doubt, not certainty – see below. |
| Slowly but surely, the backlog cleared. | A fixed phrase meaning steadily and reliably. |
| She will surely be pleased. | The straightforward sense: certainly. |
Where it is actually used
Knowing the form is one thing; knowing the company a word keeps is what makes it sound natural. These are the patterns surely appears in most often.
| Surely not / surely you must | Opening a sentence to register disbelief. |
| slowly but surely | A fixed phrase, always in that order. |
| will surely / would surely | A confident prediction. |
Surely or something else?
Several adverbs sit close to surely, and the difference is usually meaning rather than formality.
| certainly | Plain certainty, with none of the appeal for agreement that surely carries. |
| definitely | Stronger and more informal. |
| undoubtedly | Formal, and used when the writer expects no argument. |
The mistake to watch for
| Incorrect | Correct |
| It sure is cold today. | It is surely cold today. |
Using sure as an adverb is common in informal American speech and is out of place in writing. Note that most editors would rewrite the sentence altogether: It is very cold today.
The word usually signals the opposite of certainty. Surely there is another way? is not a statement of confidence – it is an appeal, and often a sign that the speaker is worried. The adjective still means certain; the adverb has drifted toward the sound of someone asking to be reassured.
Related forms
Pronunciation: SHORE-lee, two syllables.
| Adjective | sure |
| Adverb | surely |
| Noun | certainty |
| Related | assuredly, undoubtedly |
Practice
Fill the gap, then check yourself.
- ___ you cannot be finished already?
- The train will ___ be delayed in this weather.
- ___ but ___, the work got done.
Answers: 1. Surely 2. surely / certainly 3. Slowly but surely
Frequently asked
Is sure ever standard as an adverb?
Only as a one-word reply meaning yes. Can you help? Sure. That is idiomatic everywhere; it sure is hot is not.
