The English Oracle

Distinctly vs Distinctively

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Chapters
00:00 Distinctly Vs Distinctively
00:13 Accepted Answer Score 8
01:03 Thank you

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Full question
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Tags
#wordchoice #differences

#avk47



ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 8


The difference in meaning is as follows:

"Distinctly" means:

  1. in a distinct manner; clearly:
    Speak more distinctly.
  2. without doubt; unmistakably.

"Distinctively" means:

In a distinctive manner; in a way that is notable for its difference.

What does "distinctive" mean? It means:

  1. that serves to distinguish between things
  2. that is characteristic or typical of something

Thus, "distinctively" is used when someone said something "in a special way" for a special effect, such as distinguishment, while "distinctly" is clearly, or unmistakably.

Someone who said:

He spoke distinctly/means he spoke clearly
He spoke distinctively/He spoke in a manner that was notable for its difference/in a manner so that he can distinguish something he is saying.