What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
separately
Example
The students worked on the project separately. [separately: adverb]
Example
I prefer to wash my clothes separately to avoid color bleeding. [separately: adverb]
distinctly
Example
The two species of birds have distinctly different beaks. [distinctly: adverb]
Example
She spoke distinctly so that everyone could understand her. [distinctly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Separately is more commonly used than distinctly in everyday language. Separately is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while distinctly is less common and is usually reserved for more formal or technical writing.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between separately and distinctly?
Distinctly is generally considered more formal than separately. While separately can be used in both formal and informal contexts, distinctly is typically used in more formal or technical writing.
