Language is messy. Most people think they know exactly how suffix words with ly work because they sat through third-grade English, but honestly, it’s way more complicated than just sticking a tail on an adjective and calling it a day. You've likely been told to "show, don't tell," which usually translates to "kill all the adverbs." That's bad advice. Or, at the very least, it's incomplete advice that ignores how English actually functions in the real world.
The truth is that these little linguistic attachments—the -ly suffixes—are the workhorses of clarity. They change the texture of a sentence. They turn a static noun or a flat adjective into something with movement. But if you overdo it, your writing starts to feel like a cheap romance novel or a corporate memo written by someone trying way too hard to sound professional.
We need to talk about what these words actually do.
The Mechanics of Suffix Words With Ly
Basically, the primary job of the -ly suffix is to transform words into adverbs. You take "quick" and make it "quickly." You take "sad" and make it "sadly." It seems simple, right? But English loves to break its own rules. Not every word ending in -ly is an adverb. Take "friendly" or "lovely." Those are adjectives. You can’t say, "He ran friendly." Well, you could, but you’d sound like you’re glitching.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the suffix descends from the Old English -lic, meaning "appearance" or "form." It’s related to the word "like." So, when you say someone is acting "bravely," you’re literally saying they are acting "brave-like."
Most of the time, we’re dealing with Manner Adverbs. These tell us how something happened.
- The cat jumped gracefully.
- He spoke loudly.
- She slept soundly.
But then you have the weird ones. The sentence adverbs. Words like "frankly," "honestly," or "hopefully." These don't describe the action in the sentence; they describe the speaker's attitude toward the whole statement. When you start a sentence with "Honestly," you aren't saying you're performing the act of speaking in an honest manner (though hopefully you are); you’re setting a tone for the information that follows.
Why Everyone Tells You to Delete Them
Stephen King famously wrote in On Writing that "the adverb is not your friend." He’s not alone. Elements of Style by Strunk and White says something similar. The argument is that suffix words with ly are often used as a crutch for weak verbs.
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Instead of writing "He ran quickly," a "better" writer might use "He sprinted."
Instead of "She slammed the door loudly," maybe "She shattered the silence with the door."
It’s about precision. If you use a generic verb and try to fix it with an -ly word, the writing feels flabby. It’s like using a dull knife and trying to compensate by pressing down harder. It works, but it’s messy.
However, there is a counter-argument. Sometimes, you need that -ly word because the specific verb you want doesn't exist. There isn't always a single verb that captures the nuance of "smiling sadly." If you change it to "grimaced," you lose the "smile" part. If you change it to "beamed," you lose the "sad" part. In those moments, the suffix is your best friend. It provides the nuance that a single "strong" verb might miss.
The Adjective Trap
You’ve got to watch out for the imposters. As I mentioned earlier, words like "heavenly," "deadly," and "silly" are adjectives. They describe nouns.
- A deadly snake.
- A silly mistake.
- A friendly dog.
If you try to use these as adverbs, you’ll run into what linguists call "flat adverbs." This is where the adverb looks exactly like the adjective. "Drive slow" is a classic example. "Slow" is technically an adjective, but in that context, it’s functioning as an adverb. Some people will tell you it should be "Drive slowly." Those people are often called prescriptivists, and they are fun at parties. But "slow" has been used as an adverb for centuries. Even Milton used flat adverbs.
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How to Spot "Low-Value" Ly Words
If you want to rank in Google or just write something people actually want to read, you have to cut the fluff. Certain suffix words with ly add absolutely zero value to a sentence. They are filler. They are the linguistic equivalent of "um" or "uh."
"Really" and "very" are the biggest offenders. They are intensifiers that usually don't intensify anything.
"I am really tired."
"I am exhausted."
Which one feels more impactful? Exactly.
Then you have the redundant ones.
"He shouted loudly."
Unless he’s shouting in sign language, shouting is inherently loud. The -ly word is just taking up space. It’s annoying. It slows the reader down.
Technical Nuances You Probably Forgot
There are spelling rules here that trip people up. If a word ends in "y," like "happy," you change the "y" to "i" before adding the suffix: "happily." If it ends in "le," like "gentle," you drop the "e": "gently."
But then there are the outliers. "Public" becomes "publicly," not "publically" (though "specifically" keeps the "ally"). It’s these inconsistencies that make English a nightmare for learners and a playground for poets.
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Linguist Steven Pinker points out in The Sense of Style that adverbs are often maligned because they are easy to abuse, but they are essential for directing the reader's attention. They act as signposts. Words like "consequently," "subsequently," and "frequently" help establish a timeline and a logical flow. Without them, writing becomes a series of disjointed facts.
The "Discover" Factor: Making Your Writing Pop
Google Discover likes content that feels helpful and human. If you're writing a blog post or a product description, your use of suffix words with ly can actually affect your "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness).
If your writing is riddled with "basically," "actually," and "literally," you sound like a teenager—which is fine if that's your brand, but not great if you're trying to sell legal advice. On the flip side, if you never use -ly words, you might sound like a robot. The key is a wild variance in sentence structure.
Short sentences. Long, flowing ones that meander through an idea before landing on a solid point. That's how humans talk. That's how humans write.
Practical Steps for Mastering the Suffix
If you're looking to clean up your prose or just understand these words better, don't just delete every -ly word you see. That’s a butcher’s approach to surgery. Use a scalpel.
- Check for Redundancy: Look at every -ly word. Does the verb already imply the adverb? If you "whispered quietly," delete "quietly."
- Search for "Weak" Verbs: If you see "walked slowly," try "plodded," "strolled," or "sauntered." Each gives a different mental image.
- Watch the Sentence Starters: Using "Interestingly," "Notably," or "Surprisingly" at the start of a paragraph is a lazy way to create interest. Let the facts be interesting on their own.
- Distinguish Adjectives from Adverbs: Don't get caught trying to turn "lonely" into an adverb. "He sat lonely" is wrong; "He sat lonelily" is a mouthful that most editors will kill on sight. Just say "He sat alone."
- Read Aloud: This is the ultimate test. If you find yourself tripping over a string of -ly words, your rhythm is off. The human ear picks up on repetitive suffixes very quickly, and it starts to sound like a drone.
The goal isn't to eliminate suffix words with ly—it’s to make them intentional. When you use one, it should be because that specific nuance is required for the reader to understand the vibe of the action. If it's just there to fill space, let it go. Your writing will be tighter, your meaning clearer, and you won't sound like a generated script.
Actionable Summary for Better Writing
Start by auditing your last three emails or the last article you wrote. Highlight every word ending in -ly. For each one, ask: "If I remove this, does the meaning change?" If the answer is no, delete it. If the answer is yes, ask: "Is there a stronger verb I can use instead?" If there isn't, keep the -ly word. This simple filter will instantly elevate your writing from "standard" to "professional."
Focus on the rhythm of your sentences. Use -ly words to break up a long string of punchy, short sentences, or use them to add a final bit of color to a descriptive passage. Mastery of the suffix is really just mastery of restraint. Once you stop using them by accident, you can start using them with purpose.