The Adverb of Tidy: Tidily
The adverb of tidy is tidily.
How tidily is formed
Consonant plus -y, so the y becomes i: tidy → tidi + ly = tidily.
The standard -y rule, as in steady → steadily and lazy → lazily.
Tidily in a sentence
| The tools were tidily stacked against the wall. | Physically in order. |
| She parked tidily between the lines. | Precisely within bounds. |
| The notes were written out tidily. | Legibly and in order. |
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 tidily appears in most often.
| tidily stacked / folded / arranged | Objects put in order. |
| tidily parked / packed | Fitting properly within a space. |
| written / laid out tidily | Handwriting and documents. |
Tidily or something else?
Several adverbs sit close to tidily, and the difference is usually meaning rather than formality.
| neatly | Wider. It covers the literal sense and a figurative one that tidily does not reach. |
| methodically | About the order of the steps taken, not the appearance of the result. |
| meticulously | About attention to small detail, and a much stronger claim. |
The mistake to watch for
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The ending tidily resolves every subplot. | The ending neatly resolves every subplot. |
Tidily is almost entirely literal. When you mean elegantly or economically, the word is neatly.
Why neatly is the more useful word. Both describe order, but only neatly has made the jump to abstract things: an argument, a solution or a plot can be neatly handled. Nothing abstract is ever handled tidily. If you are unsure which to use, neatly is almost always safe.
Related forms
Pronunciation: TIE-di-lee, three syllables.
| Adjective | tidy |
| Adverb | tidily |
| Noun | tidiness |
| Verb | tidy (up) |
Practice
Fill the gap, then check yourself.
- The files were ___ stacked by date.
- The proof ___ avoids the usual difficulty.
- He worked ___ through the checklist.
Answers: 1. tidily / neatly 2. neatly 3. methodically
Frequently asked
Is tidy ever an adverb?
No. Note that a tidy sum uses tidy as an adjective meaning considerable, and has no adverb form at all.
