Carefully means with attention to detail or avoidance of mistakes or harm.

The idea

Use careful before a noun: a careful check. Use carefully to modify a verb: check carefully or carefully check.

Examples

  • Please read the instructions carefully.
  • She carefully carried the glass.
  • We compared the prices carefully.
  • He listened carefully to the answer.
  • Check the address carefully before sending the letter.
  • The team carefully considered the evidence.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not use carefully directly as the adjective before a noun: say a careful check.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the adverb for reading with attention. Read the instructions with attention: read them ___. (carefully / carelessly)

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    carefully

    Carefully describes how the instructions are read.

  2. Choose the adjective before the noun check. Make a ___ check before sending. (careful / carefully)

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    careful

    Careful describes the noun check.

  3. Choose the adverb for carrying with care. She carried the glass with care: she carried it ___. (carefully / carelessness)

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    carefully

    Carefully describes the action of carrying.

Use it today

Describe something you checked carefully and explain why.