Words / B2

ON-istl-ee/ˈɒnɪstli/

Honestly means in a truthful way, and is also used to emphasise that you mean what you say: answer honestly; honestly, I checked. Honest is the adjective (already in the dictionary); truthfully is a close twin. Answer honestly in the interview; log consent. Mix-up: honestly vs honestly as filler with no truth-check; honourably. Do not use honestly to paper over a missing figure.

Meaning

In a truthful way; also used to emphasise that you mean what you say.

Examples

• “Answer honestly in the interview; log consent, the ethics brief said.”
• “Honestly, the n is twelve, the methods tutor said, which is the emphasis sense — still show the working.”

Good to know

answer / admit honestly; honestly + clause. Adjective: honest. Close: truthfully / frankly. Trap: using it as empty filler. Ethics, orals, and methods. Truthfully, or to stress sincerity — still give evidence.

Near in meaning

truthfully, frankly, candidly

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