grammatically
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡræmˈætɪkli/
US
- /ɡræmˈætɪkli/
Description
- according to grammar rules
- in a way that follows language rules
- with correct sentence structure
"Grammatically" describes something done in a way that follows the rules of grammar, the system that shapes how words come together to make clear sentences. It is not just about spelling. It also includes word order, verb tense, and how different parts of a sentence work together. If a teacher says an essay is not "grammatically correct," they mean there are mistakes in the way the sentences are built. A sentence can use correctly spelled words and still be wrong if the structure does not follow the rules. You can think of grammar as the basic framework that helps language stay clear and easy to understand.
"Grammatically" refers to doing something in a way that follows the rules of grammar, the system that organizes how a language works. It covers much more than avoiding spelling mistakes. It includes correct word order, verb forms, punctuation, sentence structure, and agreement between different parts of a sentence.
You might say a student "wrote grammatically correct sentences," meaning the writing followed the usual rules of the language. You could also describe a language like Latin or German as being "grammatically complex," meaning it has many rules and forms to learn. The word often appears when people talk about mistakes: "The sentence was grammatically incorrect because the subject and verb did not agree."
It is also worth remembering that grammar is not completely fixed. Language changes over time, and something once seen as wrong may later become accepted as common usage changes. Even so, the word usually points to the standard rules that fluent speakers and writers generally accept at a given time.
Sometimes, writers intentionally break grammar rules for style, especially in poetry, fiction, or informal speech. Even then, the idea still depends on knowing what the standard form would be. In the end, when something is done "grammatically," it follows the accepted structure of the language and helps the message sound clear and natural to the reader or listener.
Examples
- 1
Writing errors
Her email was clear, but it contained a few grammatically incorrect phrases.
- 2
Correct but unnatural
The sentence is grammatically correct, but it sounds unnatural in everyday speech.
- 3
Acceptable options
Grammatically, both answers are acceptable, although one is more common.
- 4
Because of
After "because of," you need a noun phrase, so "because of he was late" is not grammatically possible.
Grammar
because of + noun phrase: for example, "because of the rain" or "because of his delay"
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- grammaticallyadverb