reportedly
reportedly in 30 Sekunden
- Used to share unconfirmed news.
- Common in journalism and gossip.
- Protects the speaker from being wrong.
- Usually placed near the main verb.
The adverb reportedly serves as a linguistic shield, a way for speakers and writers to share information that they have heard or read but cannot personally verify as absolute truth. When you use this word, you are essentially saying, 'I am telling you what others are saying, but don't hold me responsible if it turns out to be false.' It is the hallmark of responsible journalism and cautious conversation. In the realm of linguistics, it is categorized as an evidential marker, specifically one that indicates hearsay or secondhand information. Imagine you are a news reporter; you cannot say 'The CEO stole the money' unless you have a court verdict or direct proof. Instead, you say 'The CEO reportedly stole the money.' This small change shifts the burden of proof away from you and onto the 'reports' themselves.
- Core Function
- To attribute information to unspecified sources or rumors without claiming personal knowledge.
- Evidentiality
- It signals that the source of information is external and potentially unverified.
- Tone
- Objective, cautious, and professional, often found in formal media contexts.
"The famous actor is reportedly looking for a new house in London after his recent film success."
The word is built from the verb 'report' and the suffix '-ly', which transforms the action of reporting into a descriptive mode for the entire sentence. It allows for the dissemination of 'breaking news' before every single fact is nailed down. However, its use isn't limited to the evening news. In everyday life, we use it to distance ourselves from gossip. If you tell a friend, 'Sarah is reportedly quitting her job,' you are making it clear that Sarah hasn't told you this herself; you've just heard it through the grapevine. This nuance is vital for maintaining social trust and accuracy in communication.
"Apple is reportedly developing a new type of battery that lasts for three days."
- Synonym Note
- While 'allegedly' is often used in legal contexts regarding crimes, 'reportedly' is broader and used for general news or rumors.
Using reportedly correctly involves understanding its placement and its impact on the verb phrase. Most commonly, it is placed in the 'mid-position' of a sentence—usually between the subject and the main verb, or after the first auxiliary verb. For example, 'The team reportedly signed the contract' or 'The team has reportedly signed the contract.' This placement ensures that the adverb modifies the entire claim being made.
[Subject] + [Auxiliary] + reportedly + [Main Verb]
Example: The bridge was reportedly built in 1920.
It can also appear at the very beginning of a sentence to set the tone for the information that follows: 'Reportedly, the two companies are in talks to merge.' This usage is slightly more formal and emphasizes the 'hearsay' nature of the statement from the outset. Less commonly, it can appear at the end of a sentence, though this often feels like an afterthought: 'The movie will be released in December, reportedly.'
- Grammar Check
- 'Reportedly' is an adverb, so it cannot function as a verb. You cannot say 'The news reportedly that...' Instead, use 'The news is reportedly that...'
The most frequent habitat for reportedly is the world of journalism. Whether it is a 24-hour news cycle on television, a digital newspaper, or a tech blog, journalists use this word to relay information that has come from 'sources' but hasn't been officially confirmed by a press release or a spokesperson. It allows them to be the first to break a story while maintaining a level of deniability if the story changes later.
"The president is reportedly considering a new tax law to help small businesses."
In the corporate world, you might hear it during meetings or read it in internal memos when discussing competitors or market trends. 'Competitor X is reportedly launching a new product next month.' Here, it signals that the information is based on market intelligence or rumors rather than a public announcement. In social settings, it is the polite person's way of gossiping. Instead of saying 'He is getting a divorce,' which sounds definitive and perhaps intrusive, saying 'He is reportedly getting a divorce' adds a layer of distance that makes the speaker seem less like a gossip and more like someone simply sharing news they heard.
One of the most frequent errors learners make is confusing reportedly with reported. While 'reported' is the past participle of the verb (e.g., 'The crime was reported to the police'), 'reportedly' is an adverb describing the status of the information itself. Another mistake is using it when the information is a confirmed fact. If the government has officially announced a holiday, you should not say 'There is reportedly a holiday tomorrow.' Using it in this context makes you sound uninformed or unnecessarily skeptical.
- Incorrect
- "He reportedly me about the party." (Using it as a verb)
- Correct
- "He reportedly went to the party."
Placement errors are also common. While flexible, placing 'reportedly' between a preposition and its object (e.g., 'He went to reportedly the store') is grammatically awkward. Stick to placing it near the verb. Finally, learners often confuse it with 'allegedly'. While similar, 'allegedly' carries a stronger connotation of wrongdoing or legal accusation, whereas 'reportedly' is neutral and can apply to positive, negative, or neutral news.
Understanding the synonyms of reportedly helps in choosing the right level of 'certainty' for your sentence. The most common alternative is allegedly. However, 'allegedly' is almost exclusively used when someone is accused of a crime or a bad deed but has not been proven guilty. If you say 'The singer is allegedly talented,' it sounds like you are insulting them or questioning their skill. Use 'reportedly' for general news.
- Supposedly: Implies a higher level of doubt. If you say 'He is supposedly the best,' you might be suggesting that you don't believe it.
- Purportedly: Often used when something claims to be something it might not be. 'A purportedly ancient artifact' suggests it might be a fake.
- Rumoredly: Very informal. It explicitly states that the source is a rumor.
- According to reports: A multi-word equivalent that is very common in formal writing.
On the opposite end, words like officially, confirmedly, or actually represent the opposite of 'reportedly'. These words indicate that the information has been verified and is no longer just a matter of hearsay.
How Formal Is It?
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Schwierigkeitsgrad
Wichtige Grammatik
Beispiele nach Niveau
The cat is reportedly lost.
Le chat est apparemment perdu.
Placed before the adjective 'lost'.
He is reportedly a good teacher.
Il est, dit-on, un bon professeur.
Used with the verb 'to be'.
The bus is reportedly late.
Le bus est apparemment en retard.
Modifies the state of the bus.
They are reportedly moving to a new house.
Ils déménageraient apparemment dans une nouvelle maison.
Used with present continuous.
The cake is reportedly very sweet.
Le gâteau est, paraît-il, très sucré.
Reportedly + adjective phrase.
She is reportedly coming to the party.
Elle vient apparemment à la fête.
Indicates a planned action.
The movie is reportedly very long.
Le film est, dit-on, très long.
Used to describe a characteristic.
It is reportedly raining in London.
Il pleut apparemment à Londres.
Used with impersonal 'it'.
The actor is reportedly dating a famous singer.
L'acteur sortirait avec une chanteuse célèbre.
Common in entertainment news.
The new phone is reportedly very expensive.
Le nouveau téléphone serait très cher.
Used for product rumors.
The restaurant is reportedly the best in town.
Le restaurant est, dit-on, le meilleur de la ville.
Used with a superlative.
He reportedly won the lottery last week.
Il aurait apparemment gagné à la loterie la semaine dernière.
Past tense usage.
The concert was reportedly cancelled.
Le concert a apparemment été annulé.
Passive voice usage.
She reportedly speaks five languages fluently.
Elle parlerait couramment cinq langues.
Modifies a verb of ability.
The team is reportedly looking for a new coach.
L'équipe chercherait apparemment un nouvel entraîneur.
Present continuous rumor.
The bridge is reportedly closed for repairs.
Le pont est apparemment fermé pour travaux.
Reasoning provided after the adverb.
The CEO reportedly resigned after the scandal.
Le PDG aurait démissionné après le scandale.
Used in a business context.
The two countries are reportedly close to a peace deal.
Les deux pays seraient proches d'un accord de paix.
Used in political reporting.
The painting was reportedly stolen in the middle of the night.
Le tableau aurait été volé au milieu de la nuit.
Passive voice with a time expression.
Scientists have reportedly discovered a new planet.
Des scientifiques auraient découvert une nouvelle planète.
Present perfect usage.
The company is reportedly planning to cut 500 jobs.
L'entreprise prévoirait de supprimer 500 emplois.
Used for corporate strategy rumors.
The book was reportedly based on a true story.
Le livre serait basé sur une histoire vraie.
Common in literary/film discussions.
He reportedly refused to answer any questions.
Il aurait refusé de répondre à toute question.
Modifies a verb of refusal.
The storm reportedly caused significant damage to the coast.
La tempête aurait causé des dégâts importants sur la côte.
Used for environmental reporting.
The suspect is reportedly cooperating with the authorities.
Le suspect coopérerait avec les autorités.
Legal/Crime context.
The merger was reportedly delayed due to regulatory concerns.
La fusion aurait été retardée en raison de préoccupations réglementaires.
Complex business vocabulary.
The author is reportedly working on a sequel to her bestseller.
L'auteur travaillerait sur une suite de son best-seller.
Entertainment industry rumor.
The virus reportedly originated in a remote village.
Le virus serait apparu dans un village reculé.
Scientific/Medical reporting.
The athlete reportedly failed a drug test before the finals.
L'athlète aurait échoué à un test antidopage avant la finale.
Sports journalism.
The government is reportedly under pressure to lower taxes.
Le gouvernement serait sous pression pour baisser les impôts.
Political idiom 'under pressure'.
The tech giant is reportedly interested in buying the startup.
Le géant de la technologie s'intéresserait au rachat de la startup.
Business acquisition context.
The ruins were reportedly inhabited over 2,000 years ago.
Les ruines auraient été habitées il y a plus de 2 000 ans.
Historical/Archeological reporting.
The diplomat was reportedly expelled for engaging in espionage.
Le diplomate aurait été expulsé pour espionnage.
High-level political vocabulary.
The board of directors is reportedly split over the new strategy.
Le conseil d'administration serait divisé sur la nouvelle stratégie.
Corporate governance context.
The manuscript was reportedly discovered in a dusty attic in Paris.
Le manuscrit aurait été découvert dans un grenier poussiéreux à Paris.
Narrative/Journalistic style.
The billionaire is reportedly funding a secret space program.
Le milliardaire financerait un programme spatial secret.
Speculative reporting.
The policy change was reportedly prompted by public outcry.
Le changement de politique aurait été provoqué par un tollé général.
Causal relationship in reporting.
The actress reportedly turned down the role due to creative differences.
L'actrice aurait refusé le rôle en raison de divergences artistiques.
Industry-specific idioms.
The central bank is reportedly considering an interest rate hike.
La banque centrale envisagerait une hausse des taux d'intérêt.
Financial journalism.
The hackers reportedly gained access to millions of user records.
Les pirates auraient accédé à des millions de dossiers d'utilisateurs.
Cybersecurity context.
The treaty, reportedly negotiated in secret, has finally been unveiled.
Le traité, qui aurait été négocié en secret, a enfin été dévoilé.
Parenthetical usage of the adverb.
The philosopher's final works were reportedly suppressed by the state.
Les dernières œuvres du philosophe auraient été censurées par l'État.
Academic/Historical nuance.
The CEO's departure, reportedly imminent, has sent shockwaves through the market.
Le départ du PDG, qui serait imminent, a provoqué une onde de choc sur le marché.
Complex sentence with appositive phrase.
The evidence, reportedly tampered with, was deemed inadmissible in court.
Les preuves, qui auraient été falsifiées, ont été jugées irrecevables par le tribunal.
Legal precision and passive construction.
The regime is reportedly teetering on the brink of collapse.
Le régime serait sur le point de s'effondrer.
Metaphorical language in political analysis.
The artist's reclusive lifestyle was reportedly a result of early trauma.
Le mode de vie reclus de l'artiste serait le résultat d'un traumatisme précoce.
Psychological/Biographical context.
The summit was reportedly marred by disagreements over climate targets.
Le sommet aurait été entaché par des désaccords sur les objectifs climatiques.
Sophisticated verb 'marred'.
The whistleblower reportedly possesses documents that implicate high-ranking officials.
Le lanceur d'alerte détiendrait des documents impliquant des hauts fonctionnaires.
Investigative journalism terminology.
Synonyme
Gegenteile
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
is reportedly
has reportedly
was reportedly
reportedly including
reportedly among
reportedly under
reportedly due to
reportedly after
reportedly before
reportedly while
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Used specifically for crimes or accusations.
Often implies the speaker doubts the claim.
Suggests a false appearance or claim.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
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Leicht verwechselbar
Satzmuster
So verwendest du es
Used to avoid defamation.
It is a primary tool for hedging in English.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He reportedly the news').
- Using it for confirmed facts (e.g., 'The sun reportedly rises in the east').
- Confusing it with 'reported' (e.g., 'The reported news' vs 'The news is reportedly...').
- Incorrect placement (e.g., 'He went reportedly to the park').
- Using it for personal feelings (e.g., 'I am reportedly happy').
Tipps
Use in News
Always use 'reportedly' when writing about rumors to stay professional.
Placement
Place it after 'to be' verbs (is, was) for the most natural sound.
Synonym Choice
Choose 'allegedly' if the person did something wrong.
Avoid Overuse
Don't use it in every sentence or you will sound too uncertain.
Social Distance
Use it to share office news without being the 'source' of the gossip.
Critical Thinking
When you hear 'reportedly', ask yourself: 'Who reported it?'
Conciseness
Use 'reportedly' instead of 'According to what I have heard'.
B2/C1 Exams
Using this word correctly can boost your 'range' score in writing.
Skepticism
It doesn't always mean you doubt it, just that you can't prove it.
The 'Reporter' Link
Link the word to a 'Reporter' to remember its meaning.
Einprägen
Wortherkunft
From 'report' (Old French 'reporter', from Latin 'reportare' - to carry back) + '-ly' (adverbial suffix).
Kultureller Kontext
Essential for 'breaking' news before confirmation.
Often used to spread rumors while avoiding personal blame.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Gesprächseinstiege
"Did you hear that the local park is reportedly closing?"
"The new iPhone is reportedly coming out next month, are you getting it?"
"I heard that the exam was reportedly very difficult this year."
"The band is reportedly getting back together for a tour."
"She is reportedly the highest-paid actress in the world right now."
Tagebuch-Impulse
Write a short news report about a fictional event using 'reportedly' three times.
Describe a rumor you heard recently. Use 'reportedly' to distance yourself from it.
How does the word 'reportedly' change the feeling of a sentence compared to 'definitely'?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, it is very common in formal news and business writing, but also used in polite conversation.
No, because you know what you did. You only use it for things you heard about others.
Usually before the main verb or after 'is/are/was/were'.
Not exactly. 'Maybe' means it's possible; 'reportedly' means someone else said it happened.
No, it is neutral. It can be used for good news or bad news.
It's better to cite a specific source in academic writing, but it's acceptable in some contexts.
'Allegedly' is for crimes; 'reportedly' is for general information.
Yes, it is an adverb.
Yes, 'reportedly' is a more concise way of saying 'it is reported that' or 'it is said that'.
Yes, you can. For example: 'Reportedly, the king is ill.'
Teste dich selbst 180 Fragen
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Reportedly is your go-to word for sharing information that you haven't verified yourself, allowing you to remain objective and cautious in both professional and social settings.
- Used to share unconfirmed news.
- Common in journalism and gossip.
- Protects the speaker from being wrong.
- Usually placed near the main verb.
Use in News
Always use 'reportedly' when writing about rumors to stay professional.
Placement
Place it after 'to be' verbs (is, was) for the most natural sound.
Synonym Choice
Choose 'allegedly' if the person did something wrong.
Avoid Overuse
Don't use it in every sentence or you will sound too uncertain.
Beispiel
He is reportedly leaving the company.
Verwandte Inhalte
Im Kontext lernen
Ähnliche Regeln
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addressee
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