When it comes to the words unexpectedly and unexpectantly, many people find themselves in a linguistic dilemma. Which one is correct? Are they interchangeable? I am here to shed light on this matter and provide a clear answer.
The correct word to use in this case is unexpectedly. The word unexpectantly is not recognized as a standard English word and is considered incorrect. It may sound similar to unexpectedly, but it does not follow the typical rules of English word formation.
To understand why unexpectedly is the correct term, let us learn the reasoning behind it. The word unexpected is an adjective, meaning something is not anticipated or foreseen. To turn it into an adverb, which is what we need in this context, we usually add the suffix -ly to the adjective. This is a common pattern in English, as seen in words like quickly, happily, and suddenly.
Applying this rule to unexpected gives us the adverb form unexpectedly. It is used to describe actions or events that occur in a way that was not expected or predicted. For example:
“Her car broke down unexpectedly on the way to work.”
“I received an unexpectedly high grade on my exam.”
In both of these sentences, unexpectedly is used to modify the verb and convey the unexpected nature of the situation.
On the other hand, unexpectantly is a non-standard word that has emerged through analogy with other adverbs ending in -ly. However, it does not follow the standard patterns of word formation in English. Using unexpectantly may lead to confusion and raise eyebrows among those familiar with the correct form unexpectedly. Therefore, it is best to avoid using unexpectantly altogether.
Imagine going to a restaurant and ordering a “berrily” tart instead of a berry tart. Your server might look at you confused, wondering what you meant. The same confusion may arise if you use unexpectantly instead of unexpectedly. Just like “berrily” is not a recognized word in the English language, unexpectantly falls into the same category.
In conclusion, unexpectedly is the correct term to use when describing something that happens in an unexpected manner. Unexpectantly, while it may sound plausible, is not a recognized word and should be avoided. So, the next time you want to convey surprise or astonishment, remember to reach for the trusty adverb unexpectedly and leave unexpectantly behind.