-ally vs -ly Endings | Basically or Basicly?

📏Commonly Misspelled

Words Ending in -ally vs -ly

Is it ‘basically’ or ‘basicly’? ‘Actually’ or ‘actualy’? ‘Finally’ or ‘finaly’? The -ALLY vs -LY question has a wonderfully clear rule: if the adjective ends in -AL, add -LY to get -ALLY. If it doesn’t end in -AL, just add -LY!

The Rule: basic→basicAL→basically (AL+LY=ALLY). careful→carefully (no AL, just add LY). This simple pattern covers almost every word! This page has 50 examples to make it automatic.

✅ -ALLY Words (Adjective Ends in -AL!)

basicallybasicly ✗⭐⭐

BAY-sik-lee

Fundamentally

💡 BASIC → basicAL → basicALLY

“Basically, you need to study.”

actuallyactualy ✗⭐⭐

AK-choo-uh-lee

In fact

💡 ACTUAL → actualLY → ACTUALLY

“I actually liked the test!”

finallyfinaly ✗⭐⭐

FY-nuh-lee

At last

💡 FINAL → finalLY → FINALLY

“We finally arrived!”

usuallyussually ✗⭐⭐

YOO-zhoo-uh-lee

Most of the time

💡 USUAL → usualLY → USUALLY

“I usually wake at 7.”

naturallynaturaly ✗⭐⭐

NACH-ruh-lee

In a natural way

💡 NATURAL → naturalLY

“She speaks English naturally.”

especiallyespecialy ✗⭐⭐

ih-SPESH-uh-lee

Particularly

💡 ESPECIAL → especialLY

“Especially important.”

personallypersonaly ✗⭐⭐

PUR-sun-uh-lee

In one’s own view

💡 PERSONAL → personalLY

“Personally, I disagree.”

occasionallyoccasionaly ✗⭐⭐

uh-KAY-zhun-uh-lee

Sometimes

💡 OCCASIONAL → occasionalLY

“I occasionally eat sweets.”

traditionallytraditionaly ✗⭐⭐

truh-DISH-un-uh-lee

By tradition

💡 TRADITIONAL → traditionalLY

“Traditionally, we fast on Mondays.”

accidentallyaccidentaly ✗⭐⭐

ak-sih-DEN-tuh-lee

By accident

💡 ACCIDENTAL → accidentalLY

“I accidentally broke it!”

✅ More -ALLY Words

dramaticallydramaticaly ✗⭐⭐

druh-MAT-ik-lee

In a dramatic way

💡 DRAMATIC → dramaticAL → dramaticALLY

“Things changed dramatically.”

automaticallyautomaticaly ✗⭐⭐

aw-toh-MAT-ik-lee

By itself

💡 AUTOMATIC → automaticAL → automaticALLY

“The door opens automatically.”

practicallypracticaly ✗⭐⭐

PRAK-tik-lee

Almost/in practice

💡 PRACTICAL → practicalLY

“Practically everyone came.”

physicallyphysicaly ✗⭐⭐

FIZ-ik-lee

Bodily

💡 PHYSICAL → physicalLY

“Physically fit.”

politicallypoliticaly ✗⭐⭐

puh-LIT-ik-lee

In politics

💡 POLITICAL → politicalLY

“Politically correct.”

criticallycriticaly ✗⭐⭐

KRIT-ik-lee

Very seriously

💡 CRITICAL → criticalLY

“Critically injured.”

originallyoriginaly ✗⭐⭐

uh-RIJ-in-uh-lee

At first

💡 ORIGINAL → originalLY

“Originally from Mumbai.”

emotionallyemotionaly ✗⭐⭐

ih-MOH-shun-uh-lee

With emotion

💡 EMOTIONAL → emotionalLY

“Emotionally moved.”

professionallyprofessionaly ✗⭐⭐

pruh-FESH-un-uh-lee

In a professional way

💡 PROFESSIONAL → professionalLY

“Professionally dressed.”

internationallyinternationaly ✗⭐⭐

in-tur-NASH-un-uh-lee

Worldwide

💡 INTERNATIONAL → internationalLY

“Internationally recognized.”

📝 -LY Words (No -AL in Adjective)

carefullycarfuly ✗⭐

KAIR-fuh-lee

With care

💡 CAREFUL (no AL root!) + LY

“Drive carefully.”

happilyhappyly ✗⭐⭐

HAP-ih-lee

In a happy way

💡 HAPPY → happi + LY (Y→I!)

“She smiled happily.”

quicklyquickley ✗⭐

KWIK-lee

Fast

💡 QUICK + LY

“Come quickly!”

slowlyslowley ✗⭐

SLOH-lee

Not fast

💡 SLOW + LY

“Walk slowly.”

completelycompletly ✗⭐⭐

kum-PLEET-lee

Fully

💡 COMPLETE + LY (keep E!)

“I completely agree.”

immediatelyimmediatly ✗⭐⭐

ih-MEE-dee-ut-lee

Right now

💡 IMMEDIATE + LY (keep E!)

“Come immediately!”

definitelydefinately ✗⭐⭐

DEF-ih-nut-lee

Certainly

💡 DEFINITE + LY

“I’ll definitely come.”

unfortunatelyunfortunatly ✗⭐⭐

un-FOR-chuh-nut-lee

Sadly

💡 UNFORTUNATE + LY (keep E!)

“Unfortunately, we lost.”

separatelyseparatly ✗⭐⭐

SEP-uh-rut-lee

Apart

💡 SEPARATE + LY

“They sat separately.”

absolutelyabsolutly ✗⭐⭐

AB-suh-loot-lee

Completely

💡 ABSOLUTE + LY (keep E!)

“Absolutely correct!”

⚠️ Tricky -LY Exceptions

trulytruely ✗⭐⭐

TROO-lee

Really

💡 EXCEPTION! true → truly (drop E!)

“I’m truly grateful.”

dulyduely ✗⭐⭐

DOO-lee

Properly

💡 EXCEPTION! due → duly (drop E!)

“Duly noted.”

whollywholely ✗⭐⭐

HOH-lee

Completely

💡 EXCEPTION! whole → wholly (drop E!)

“I wholly agree.”

simplysimplely ✗⭐

SIM-plee

In a simple way

💡 SIMPLE → simply (drop E + LE!)

“Simply the best.”

gentlygentlely ✗⭐

JEN-tlee

Softly, kindly

💡 GENTLE → gently (drop E + LE!)

“Handle gently.”

probablyprobaly ✗⭐⭐

PROB-uh-blee

Most likely

💡 PROBABLE → probably (drop E!)

“She’ll probably come.”

possiblypossibley ✗⭐⭐

POS-ih-blee

Maybe

💡 POSSIBLE → possibly (drop E + LE!)

“I’ll possibly attend.”

terriblyterribley ✗⭐⭐

TER-ih-blee

Very badly

💡 TERRIBLE → terribly (drop E + LE!)

“Terribly sorry.”

incrediblyincredibley ✗⭐⭐

in-KRED-ih-blee

Unbelievably

💡 INCREDIBLE → incredibly (drop E + LE!)

“Incredibly talented!”

comfortablycomfortabley ✗⭐⭐

KUMF-tuh-blee

At ease

💡 COMFORTABLE → comfortably (drop E + LE!)

“Sitting comfortably.”

🎤 Public Speaking & Essay -LY Words

consequentlyconsequantly ✗⭐⭐

KON-sih-kwunt-lee

As a result

💡 CONSEQUENT + LY

“Consequently, we won.”

significantlysignificantely ✗⭐⭐

sig-NIF-ih-kunt-lee

Meaningfully

💡 SIGNIFICANT + LY

“Significantly improved.”

approximatelyapproximatly ✗⭐⭐

uh-PROK-sih-mut-lee

About, roughly

💡 APPROXIMATE + LY (keep E!)

“Approximately 500 people.”

simultaneouslysimultaneousely ✗⭐⭐

sy-mul-TAY-nee-us-lee

At the same time

💡 SIMULTANEOUS + LY

“Happening simultaneously.”

independentlyindependantely ✗⭐⭐

in-dih-PEN-dunt-lee

On one’s own

💡 INDEPENDENT + LY

“Working independently.”

appropriatelyappropriatly ✗⭐⭐

uh-PROH-pree-ut-lee

Suitably

💡 APPROPRIATE + LY (keep E!)

“Dressed appropriately.”

necessarilynecessaryly ✗⭐⭐

NES-uh-sair-ih-lee

As a requirement

💡 NECESSARY → necessariLY (Y→I!)

“Not necessarily true.”

temporarilytemporaryly ✗⭐⭐

TEM-pruh-rair-ih-lee

For a short time

💡 TEMPORARY → temporariLY (Y→I!)

“Temporarily closed.”

voluntarilyvoluntaryly ✗⭐⭐

VOL-un-tair-ih-lee

By choice

💡 VOLUNTARY → voluntariLY (Y→I!)

“She volunteered voluntarily.”

extraordinarilyextraordinaryly ✗⭐⭐⭐

ik-STROR-din-air-ih-lee

Extremely

💡 EXTRAORDINARY → extraordinariLY

“Extraordinarily talented!”

📐 5 Spelling Rules

The Golden Rule: -AL + LY = -ALLY

If the adjective ends in -AL, add -LY to get -ALLY: basic→basicAL→basicALLY, final→finalLY, usual→usualLY.

✅ basically, finally, usually, naturally, especially, personally

No -AL? Just Add -LY

If the adjective doesn’t end in -AL, just add -LY: quick→quickly, slow→slowly, careful→carefully.

✅ quickly, slowly, carefully, happily, definitely, immediately

-IC + ALLY (Not Just -LY!)

Adjectives ending in -IC add -ALLY (not -LY): basic→basically, dramatic→dramatically, automatic→automatically. Exception: publicly!

✅ basically, dramatically, automatically, practically. Exception: publicly!

Drop -LE Before -LY

Words ending in -LE drop it: simple→simply, gentle→gently, possible→possibly, terrible→terribly.

✅ simply, gently, possibly, terribly, incredibly, comfortably

Exceptions: truly, duly, wholly

true→truly, due→duly, whole→wholly. These drop E before -LY (unusual!). Most words KEEP E: complete→completely.

✅ Exceptions: truly, duly, wholly | Normal: completely, immediately

🐝 Spelling Quiz

1. basic + ally = ?

2. quick + ly = ?

3. true + ly = ?

4. simple + ly = ?

5. complete + ly = ?

6. dramatic + ? = dramatically

7. final + ? = finally

8. Why ‘basically’ not ‘basicly’?

9. ‘Publicly’ is an exception because:

10. ‘Probably’ drops E from:

🔀 Word Scramble

Unscramble the letters

YLACISLBA

YLALUTCA

YLLANFI

YLUTR

YLKCIUQ

✏️ Fill in Missing Letters

Type the missing letters

basic_lly

actual_y

final_y

tru_y

quick_y

❓ FAQ

What’s the rule for -ally vs -ly?

If the adjective ends in -AL → add -LY = -ALLY: basicAL→basicALLY. If no -AL → just add -LY: quick→quickly. For -IC adjectives → add -ALLY: dramatic→dramatically.

Why is it ‘basically’ not ‘basicly’?

Because ‘basic’ needs -AL first: basic→basicAL (adjective)→basicALLY (adverb). The -IC ending always adds -ALLY, never just -LY. Only exception: publicly!

Why is ‘truly’ not ‘truely’?

‘Truly’ is one of 3 exceptions where E drops before -LY: true→truly, due→duly, whole→wholly. Most words keep E: complete→completely, immediate→immediately.

What about -LE words like ‘simple’?

Words ending in -LE drop the -LE and add -LY: simple→simply, gentle→gently, possible→possibly, terrible→terribly, comfortable→comfortably.

Is ‘publically’ or ‘publicly’ correct?

‘Publicly’ is correct — it’s the ONLY -IC word that adds just -LY instead of -ALLY. Every other -IC word uses -ALLY: basically, dramatically, practically, automatically.

🐝 All Spelling Bee Guides — 49 Topics