To form a regular adverb we simply add –ly to the corresponding adjective.
slow > slowly
woman > womanly
autonomous > autonomously
However in some cases adding –ly is not a straightforward matter and a few changes are required.
Spelling Rules
- -ic
With adjectives ending in -ic you need to add al before you add -ly
problematic > problematically
scientific > scientifically
automatic > automatically
specific > specifically
Note, an important exception to this rule is PUBLIC > PUBLICLY which of course follows the usual -ly rule of spelling to turn an adjective into an adverb.
- -le
With adjectives ending in –le you need to check first if there is a consonant before –le. If there is, simply change the final e into y.
favorable > favorably
simple > simply
wrinkle > wrinkly
humble > humbly
If instead there is a vowel before –le then simply add -ly to the adjective.
agile > agilely
sole > solely
Exception: with the adjective whole, you need to remove the final e before adding -ly
whole > wholly
- -ll
With adjectives ending in –ll you only need to add -y
dull > dully
full > fully
shrill > shrilly
- -ue
With adjectives ending in –ue you need to drop the final –e before adding -ly
due > duly
true > truly
- -y
With adjectives ending in –y you need to check first if there is a consonant before –y. If there is, simply change the y into i before adding -ly.
busy > busily
uneasy > uneasily
easy > easily
happy > happily
Exception: shy and sly don’t require any changes. Simply add -ly
shy > shyly
sly > slyly
If instead there is a vowel, simply add -ly to the adjective.
coy > coyly
gray > grayly
Exception: with gay you need to change y into i and then add -ly
gay > gaily
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