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+39 347 378 8169

Spelling Rules for Adding -ly

Vocabulary & Spelling

To form a regular adverb we simply add –ly to the corresponding adjective‏‎.

slow > slowly

woman > womanly

autonomous > autonomously

However in some cases adding –ly is not a straightforward matter and a few changes are required.

Spelling Rules

  • -ic

With adjectives ending in -ic you need to add al before you add -ly

problematic > problematically

scientific > scientifically

automatic > automatically

specific > specifically

Note, an important exception to this rule is PUBLIC > PUBLICLY which of course follows the usual -ly rule of spelling to turn an adjective into an adverb.

  • -le

With adjectives ending in –le you need to check first if there is a consonant before –le. If there is, simply change the final e into y.

favorable > favorably

simple > simply

wrinkle > wrinkly

humble > humbly

If instead there is a vowel before –le then simply add -ly to the adjective.

agile > agilely

sole > solely

Exception: with the adjective whole, you need to remove the final e before adding -ly

whole > wholly

  • -ll

With adjectives ending in –ll you only need to add -y

dull > dully

full > fully

shrill > shrilly

  • -ue

With adjectives ending in –ue you need to drop the final –e before adding -ly

due > duly

true > truly

  • -y

With adjectives ending in –y you need to check first if there is a consonant before –y. If there is, simply change the y into i before adding -ly.

busy > busily

uneasy > uneasily

easy > easily

happy > happily

Exception: shy and sly don’t require any changes. Simply add -ly

shy > shyly

sly > slyly

If instead there is a vowel, simply add -ly to the adjective.

coy > coyly

gray > grayly

Exception: with gay you need to change y into i and then add -ly

gay > gaily

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6 Comments

  1. Stuart Simon

    You forgot an important and often-encountered exception to the first rule: publicly.

    • Jenny Scott

      Yes, Stuart, an important exception! We’ve noted it in the article now, thanks.

  2. tahir

    what about long ?!1

  3. Combersome09

    Much informative ✨

    • Sheila Corwin

      Thanks for letting us know. =)