formally
formally 30초 만에
- Formally is an adverb used to describe actions that follow official rules, legal procedures, or strict social etiquette, often involving a serious or professional tone.
- It is frequently used in the context of clothing, where 'dressing formally' means wearing elegant attire like suits or gowns for special events or business.
- In professional and legal settings, it indicates that an action is being recorded or made official, such as 'formally' signing a contract or announcing a decision.
- It should not be confused with 'formerly', which means 'in the past', or 'formal', which is the adjective form used to describe people or things.
The word formally is an adverb that describes actions performed in accordance with established rules, conventions, or official procedures. While the user noted it as a noun, it is strictly an adverb derived from the adjective 'formal'. In its primary sense, it refers to the execution of a task or the behavior of an individual that adheres to a prescribed set of standards. This could range from the way a legal document is signed to the way a person greets a head of state. When you do something formally, you are stepping away from the casual, relaxed nature of everyday life and entering a space where 'form'—the structure and appearance of the action—matters as much as the action itself.
- Official Recognition
- This refers to the process of making something legally binding or officially acknowledged by an authority. For example, a couple might be living together, but they are only formally married once the legal documents are processed.
- Dress and Appearance
- In social contexts, dressing formally means wearing specific types of clothing like suits, tuxedos, or evening gowns. It signals respect for the event and the participants.
- Communication Style
- Speaking formally involves using precise grammar, avoiding slang, and utilizing professional titles (like 'Professor' or 'Doctor') to maintain a respectful distance.
"The treaty was formally signed by both leaders in the capital city yesterday, marking the end of the conflict."
To understand 'formally', one must understand the concept of 'formality'. Formality is the noun form, representing the state of being formal. When we act formally, we are manifesting that state. In a business setting, a meeting might begin informally with coffee and small talk, but once the chairperson stands up and calls the meeting to order, the proceedings begin formally. This transition is crucial in many cultures as it defines the boundaries between personal friendship and professional obligation. It ensures that everyone knows the 'rules of engagement' and that decisions are made through proper channels rather than through casual consensus.
"Please dress formally for the gala dinner; black tie is required for all male guests."
- Strict Adherence
- Doing something formally implies that no shortcuts were taken. It is the opposite of 'cutting corners'.
- Public Declaration
- Often, acting formally involves a public or recorded element, such as an announcement or a public ceremony.
In linguistics, formally can also refer to the structure of language itself. A sentence can be formally correct (meaning it follows grammar rules) even if it doesn't make sense. However, for most learners, the focus remains on the social and procedural aspects. Whether you are being formally introduced to a new colleague or formally submitting a complaint to a company, the word signals a level of seriousness and importance that transcends the everyday. It is the language of institutions, laws, and high-stakes social interactions.
Using formally correctly requires an understanding of its role as an adverb. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that the action or state is official or rule-bound. Because it is an adverb of manner, it often appears after the verb it modifies or at the end of a clause. For instance, 'He dressed formally' or 'The announcement was made formally.' It can also appear before the verb for emphasis: 'The board formally approved the budget.'
- Positioning: Usually follows the main verb or the object. 'They greeted the guests formally.'
- Passive Voice: Very common in passive constructions. 'The decision was formally announced.'
- Contrast: Often used to contrast with 'informally' or 'casually'. 'We met casually for coffee, but we will meet formally in the office.'
When describing clothing, formally is the standard choice. You wouldn't say 'He dressed formal' in strict grammatical English (though it happens in slang); instead, you say 'He dressed formally.' This distinction is important for exams and professional writing. In the context of education, you might be formally enrolled in a course, meaning your name is on the official list and you have paid the fees, as opposed to just 'auditing' or sitting in on the class for fun.
"The student was formally cautioned about his attendance before the final warning was issued."
In logic and mathematics, formally is used to describe proofs or systems that follow strict symbolic rules without regard for the specific meaning of the symbols. This is a highly specialized use, but it highlights the word's core meaning: following the 'form' or the 'rules' above all else. For a general learner, focus on the social 'rules'—the etiquette of weddings, the procedures of law, and the standards of professional conduct.
You will encounter formally in environments where structure and authority are paramount. In the workplace, it is used during performance reviews, hiring processes, and legal disputes. A manager might say, 'I need to formally document this conversation,' which is a signal that the talk is no longer just a friendly chat but is now part of an official record. This usage is common in HR (Human Resources) departments worldwide.
In the news, you will hear it regarding international relations. 'The two countries have formally established diplomatic ties' means they have opened embassies and recognized each other's governments. In sports, a player might formally request a transfer, meaning they have submitted the required paperwork to their club. It is the language of 'the record'—anything that is formally done is usually written down or recorded in some way.
"The Queen formally opened the new hospital wing with a ribbon-cutting ceremony."
In academic settings, professors use it to describe research methods or the submission of theses. 'Your proposal must be formally submitted by Friday' implies that an email or a verbal agreement is not enough; you must use the official portal or form. Even in social life, invitations often state 'Dress formally,' which is a clear instruction to leave the jeans and t-shirts at home and opt for something sophisticated.
One of the most frequent errors is using the adjective 'formal' when the adverb formally is required. For example, saying 'He spoke very formal' is common in casual speech but is grammatically incorrect. It should be 'He spoke very formally.' Adverbs describe how an action is done. If you are describing the person, use the adjective ('He is formal'); if you are describing the speaking, use the adverb.
- Confusing with 'Formerly': This is a major trap. 'Formerly' means 'in the past' or 'previously'. 'Formally' means 'in an official way'. They sound similar but have completely different meanings.
- Redundancy: Avoid saying 'formally official'. Since 'formally' already implies an official capacity, this is often repetitive. Just 'formally' or 'officially' is usually enough.
- Misspelling: Many learners forget the double 'l'. It is 'formal' + 'ly' = formally.
Another mistake is using formally in contexts that are too casual. Telling a friend, 'I formally invite you to my pizza party,' might sound like a joke or overly stiff unless you are intentionally being humorous. Understanding the 'register' or the level of seriousness is key. Use it when the situation actually involves rules, laws, or high-level social expectations.
Several words share a semantic space with formally, but each has a unique nuance. Officially is the closest synonym. If a law is formally adopted, it is officially in effect. However, 'officially' focuses more on the authority behind the action, while 'formally' focuses on the procedure and style.
- Ceremoniously
- This suggests a lot of ritual and pomp. A king might be ceremoniously crowned, which is a specific, very grand type of formally acting.
- Properly
- This means doing something the 'right' way. While formally implies rules, 'properly' implies correctness or social etiquette.
- Strictly
- This emphasizes following rules without any flexibility. 'The rules were strictly enforced' is more intense than saying they were formally enforced.
On the opposite side, we have informally and casually. If you are formally dressed, you are in a suit; if you are casually dressed, you are in jeans. If you formally announce a breakup, you might release a statement; if you informally do it, you just tell your friends over text. Choosing between these words depends on whether you want to highlight the 'rules' (formally), the 'authority' (officially), or the 'ritual' (ceremoniously).
How Formal Is It?
난이도
알아야 할 문법
Adverb placement
Passive voice construction
Adjective vs Adverb distinction
Suffixes (-ly)
Formal vs Informal registers
수준별 예문
Please dress formally for the party.
Por favor, vístete formalmente para la fiesta.
Adverb modifying the verb 'dress'.
He greeted me formally.
Él me saludó formalmente.
Adverb of manner.
Is this a formally dressed event?
¿Es este un evento de vestimenta formal?
Used as part of a compound adjective.
They spoke very formally.
Ellos hablaron muy formalmente.
Modified by the intensifier 'very'.
I need to dress formally for my new job.
Necesito vestirme formalmente para mi nuevo trabajo.
Infinitive phrase 'to dress formally'.
She always acts formally with her teacher.
Ella siempre actúa formalmente con su profesor.
Adverb modifying 'acts'.
The dinner will be formally served.
La cena será servida formalmente.
Passive voice construction.
You should write the letter formally.
Deberías escribir la carta formalmente.
Adverb modifying 'write'.
The meeting was formally opened by the manager.
La reunión fue abierta formalmente por el gerente.
Passive voice.
We were formally introduced at the wedding.
Fuimos presentados formalmente en la boda.
Past participle 'introduced' modified by 'formally'.
He formally applied for the position.
Él solicitó el puesto formalmente.
Simple past tense.
Please state your name formally for the record.
Por favor, diga su nombre formalmente para el registro.
Imperative sentence.
The club was formally established in 1990.
El club fue establecido formalmente en 1990.
Passive voice with a date.
They are formally married now.
Ahora están casados formalmente.
Adverb modifying the adjective 'married'.
I was formally invited to the ceremony.
Fui invitado formalmente a la ceremonia.
Passive voice.
The results will be formally announced tomorrow.
Los resultados serán anunciados formalmente mañana.
Future passive.
The government formally protested the decision.
El gobierno protestó formalmente la decisión.
Subject + Adverb + Verb.
The agreement was formally ratified by the board.
El acuerdo fue ratificado formalmente por la junta.
Passive voice with 'ratified'.
He has not yet been formally charged.
Aún no ha sido acusado formalmente.
Present perfect passive.
The school formally recognized her achievements.
La escuela reconoció formalmente sus logros.
Active voice, past tense.
You must formally request access to the archives.
Debes solicitar formalmente el acceso a los archivos.
Modal verb 'must' + adverb + verb.
The two companies are now formally merged.
Las dos empresas ahora están fusionadas formalmente.
Adverb modifying 'merged'.
She was formally trained as a classical pianist.
Ella fue entrenada formalmente como pianista clásica.
Passive voice describing education.
The boundaries were formally defined in the treaty.
Los límites fueron definidos formalmente en el tratado.
Passive voice.
The suspect was formally cautioned by the police.
El sospechoso fue advertido formalmente por la policía.
Legal terminology.
The proposal was formally submitted to the committee.
La propuesta fue presentada formalmente al comité.
Passive voice.
He formally resigned from his post as CEO.
Él renunció formalmente a su cargo de CEO.
Professional context.
The curriculum is formally structured around core skills.
El currículo está estructurado formalmente en torno a habilidades básicas.
Adverb modifying 'structured'.
They have formally complained about the noise levels.
Se han quejado formalmente de los niveles de ruido.
Present perfect.
The law was formally enacted last night.
La ley fue promulgada formalmente anoche.
Legal context.
She was formally presented to the court.
Ella fue presentada formalmente ante la corte.
Social or legal context.
The findings were formally published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Los hallazgos fueron publicados formalmente en una revista revisada por pares.
Academic context.
The argument is formally valid but logically unsound.
El argumento es formalmente válido pero lógicamente erróneo.
Logical/Philosophical context.
The language is formally complex and highly stylized.
El lenguaje es formalmente complejo y muy estilizado.
Literary analysis.
He was formally inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Fue incluido formalmente en el Salón de la Fama.
Ceremonial context.
The system is formally closed to external influences.
El sistema está formalmente cerrado a influencias externas.
Systems theory context.
She formally renounced her claim to the throne.
Ella renunció formalmente a su pretensión al trono.
High-stakes legal action.
The poem is formally experimental, breaking traditional rules.
El poema es formalmente experimental, rompiendo las reglas tradicionales.
Artistic criticism.
The relationship was never formally acknowledged by the palace.
La relación nunca fue reconocida formalmente por el palacio.
Passive with 'never'.
The treaty formally ended the state of war.
El tratado puso fin formalmente al estado de guerra.
Historical/Political context.
The theorem was formally proven using set theory.
El teorema fue probado formalmente usando la teoría de conjuntos.
Mathematical rigor.
The work is formally innovative, redefining the genre.
La obra es formalmente innovadora, redefiniendo el género.
Aesthetic analysis.
The constitution formally enshrines the right to free speech.
La constitución consagra formalmente el derecho a la libre expresión.
Legal/Political philosophy.
The semantics are formally mapped onto the syntax.
La semántica se mapea formalmente sobre la sintaxis.
Linguistic theory.
He was formally exonerated after new DNA evidence emerged.
Fue exonerado formalmente después de que surgieran nuevas pruebas de ADN.
Legal justice.
The ritual is formally prescribed in the ancient texts.
El ritual está prescrito formalmente en los textos antiguos.
Anthropological context.
The boundaries of the state are formally contested.
Las fronteras del estado están formalmente en disputa.
Geopolitical nuance.
The architecture is formally rigorous, adhering to brutalist principles.
La arquitectura es formalmente rigurosa, adhiriéndose a los principios brutalistas.
Architectural criticism.
동의어
반의어
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
자주 혼동되는 단어
관용어 및 표현
혼동하기 쉬운
문장 패턴
사용법
Always adds a layer of seriousness.
Formally (rules) vs Formerly (time).
- Using 'formal' instead of 'formally' for actions.
- Confusing 'formally' with 'formerly'.
- Overusing it in casual text messages.
- Misspelling it as 'formaly'.
- Using it to mean 'very' (e.g., 'It was formally hot' is wrong).
팁
Professionalism
Use 'formally' to describe your official duties in a resume.
Clarity
When introducing someone, say 'May I formally introduce...' to show high respect.
Adverb Rule
Remember: Adverbs describe verbs. If you describe 'how' someone did something, use 'formally'.
Context
Use 'formally' when there is a 'form' or 'document' involved.
Etiquette
If an invitation says 'formally', it usually means a suit or a gown.
News
Pay attention to 'formally' in international news to spot official government actions.
Double L
Think: Formal + Ly = Formally.
Structure
In logic, 'formally' means following the structure, not the meaning.
Law
In law, 'formally' often means 'on the record'.
Irony
Use 'formally' in casual settings to be funny or ironic with friends.
암기하기
어원
Latin
문화적 맥락
British 'stiff upper lip' is often associated with acting formally and reservedly.
In Germany and Japan, formal titles are used much longer than in the US.
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
대화 시작하기
"Do you prefer to dress formally or casually?"
"When was the last time you had to speak formally?"
"Is your workplace a place where people act formally?"
"Do you think schools should require students to dress formally?"
"Have you ever been formally introduced to someone famous?"
일기 주제
Describe a time you had to dress formally. How did it make you feel?
Write about a situation where acting formally is very important.
Compare a formal dinner with a casual lunch with friends.
How does speaking formally change the way people perceive you?
Should we be less formal in our daily lives? Why or why not?
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Formally focuses on the procedure and style, while officially focuses on the authority behind the action. Often they are interchangeable.
In casual speech, yes, but in writing and exams, you must use 'formally' because it is an adverb.
No, 'formally' is an adverb. The noun form is 'formality'.
No, it can also mean following official rules or speaking in a professional way.
F-O-R-M-A-L-L-Y. Don't forget the double 'l'.
The most common opposites are 'informally' and 'casually'.
Use 'formerly' when you mean 'in the past' (e.g., 'He was formerly the president').
Yes, to describe theories or proofs that follow strict mathematical or logical rules.
Yes, for emphasis, e.g., 'Formally, the event was a success, but socially it was a disaster.'
Yes, it is very common in professional, legal, and academic English.
셀프 테스트 174 질문
/ 174 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'formally' acts as a bridge between casual life and the structured world of institutions. Whether you are dressing up for a wedding or submitting a legal document, acting 'formally' signals that you are respecting the established rules and the importance of the occasion.
- Formally is an adverb used to describe actions that follow official rules, legal procedures, or strict social etiquette, often involving a serious or professional tone.
- It is frequently used in the context of clothing, where 'dressing formally' means wearing elegant attire like suits or gowns for special events or business.
- In professional and legal settings, it indicates that an action is being recorded or made official, such as 'formally' signing a contract or announcing a decision.
- It should not be confused with 'formerly', which means 'in the past', or 'formal', which is the adjective form used to describe people or things.
Professionalism
Use 'formally' to describe your official duties in a resume.
Clarity
When introducing someone, say 'May I formally introduce...' to show high respect.
Adverb Rule
Remember: Adverbs describe verbs. If you describe 'how' someone did something, use 'formally'.
Context
Use 'formally' when there is a 'form' or 'document' involved.
예시
This is an example with formally.
관련 콘텐츠
맥락에서 배우기
이 단어를 다른 언어로
Social 관련 단어
abanthropate
C1인간의 본질적인 자질과 특성에서 벗어난 상태를 설명합니다. '그의 고립된 생활은 그를 인간성에서 멀어진(abanthropate) 상태로 만들었다.'
abhospence
C1‘abhospence’는 환대의 결여나 불친절한 태도를 의미합니다.
abjudtude
C1그 전직 장관의 공식적인 권리 박탈 상태(abjudtude)는 정치적 보복의 결과로 여겨졌다.
abphobship
C1제도적 계층 구조나 조직화된 권위자에 대한 체계적이고 깊은 혐오를 설명하는 형용사입니다.
abstinence
B2절제(abstinence)는 식욕이나 갈망을 충족시키는 것을 자발적으로 삼가는 관행으로, 주로 알코올, 음식 또는 성적 활동에 적용됩니다.
abtactship
C1물리적 접촉이나 실질적인 상호작용에서 분리된 상태.
abtrudship
C1동의 없이 리더십이나 특정 규칙을 그룹에 강제로 부여하는 것.
abvictious
C1더 큰 궁극적인 승리를 보장하기 위해 사소한 위치나 이점을 전략적으로 양보하는 것. 이는 의도적이고 계산된 손실이나 철회를 통해 달성되는 정교한 성공의 형태를 설명합니다.
abvolism
C1아볼리즘은 완전한 자율성을 달성하기 위해 사회적 규범에서 거리를 두는 관습입니다.
acceptance
B2수락은 제안, 계획 또는 초대에 동의하는 행위입니다.