The plastering on the building is to be done in a timely fashion, however the client understands that there may be time delays due to unfavourable winter weather conditions.Īmericans do tend to use the word ‘timely’ in place of the full phrase. However, debate rages about whether the word ‘timely’ can be used as an adverb, e.g. ‘the report needs to be delivered timely’. Others may argue that that sentence should be rephrased as, ‘There needs to be timely delivery of the report’. The basis for the argument is that adverbs are formed by adding the suffix -ly to adjectives.įor example, ‘that is a beautiful dress’ (adjective) can be used as an adverb, ‘the dress was sewn beautifully’. The word ‘time’ is a noun, and therefore becomes an adjective, and not an adverb, when the suffix -ly is appended. In the form ‘timely’, it should only be used to describe other nouns and not verbs. Hence, the construct of the phrases ‘in a timely fashion’, ‘in a timely manner’ and ‘on a timely basis’. Similar words in the English language include friendly, lovely and homely. The rather cumbersome word ‘friendlily’ is an adverb that can be found in the Oxford Dictionary.Īs stated above, the phrase is used politely when the person requesting the task does not want to be seen to be pulling rank or unduly rushing the person doing the work. There is room for confusion because one person’s sense of urgency may not be matched by the other person’s in such a verbal or written interaction. It is best to observe the non-verbal cues that accompany such a request to understand the true meaning of the agreement and the consequences of non-delivery. It would also probably be wise to get an understanding of the exact time frames each party is committing to.Īlternative expressions for “in a timely manner”Īlternatives to the phrase are, ‘in a timely manner’ or ‘on a timely basis’. The word ‘timeously’ would be a succinct way of expressing the same sentiment but it is not in common use in American English. The word is used in the English legal system but seems to have bypassed everyday speech.Ĭuriously, it is found to be well understood in the former British colonies of Sub Saharan Africa.įrequently asked questions about “in a timely manner” and closely related expressionsĭo you say, ‘in a timely fashion’ or ‘on a timely fashion’ ? The Oxford dictionary states its origin as being Scottish. In the English language we speak of being ‘on time’ but ‘in a certain manner’. In this expression the preposition ‘in’ is used because it is associated with the ‘fashion’ in which the time was applied, not the time itself. What is the difference between ‘on time’ and ‘in a timely fashion’? ‘On time’ implies that you know the exact time. Another word that can be used is ‘punctual’ which means you can be early but not late for a specified time.Įxample: It is vitally important that you be on time for work every day in order to take over from the night shift. In this example, ‘in a timely fashion’ may be used to describe how you get to work in order to arrive on time. It does not imply an exact time.Įxample: You need to get dressed in a timely fashion in order to be ready for your lift to work.“We can't communicate with each other” is probably the number-one complaint of most couples coming in for marriage counseling or couples therapy. The underlying issue can be about anything: Parenting, sex, money, priorities. But the result is the same - tense, frustrating moments for both of you.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |