Successfully or Succesfully: Which One Is Correct And Why?

When it comes to writing, even small mistakes can significantly affect the clarity and professionalism of your message. One of the most common errors people make is confusing “Successfully” and “Succesfully.” 

Whether you’re writing an important email or striving for successful results in your professional work, using the accurate spelling of words like “successfully” can have a significant impact on your credibility.

In this article, we’ll understand why “successfully” is the correct form, why “succesfully” is a typical mistake, and how you can avoid this and other spelling mistakes in your writing.

Understanding “Successfully” and “Succesfully”

“Successfully” and “succesfully” may look similar, but only one is correct. Successfully is the right way to spell the word, and it means completing something with good results. For example, you might say, “I successfully finished the project.” 

On the other hand, succesfully is a common mistake. It’s not a real word and happens because of a typo or misunderstanding of how the word is spelled. Remember, “success” has two “c”s, but “successfully” only has one “l.” 

Paying attention to this helps you avoid spelling errors and keeps your writing clear and professional.

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Successfully: Definition and Usage

“Successfully” is an adverb of success derived from the noun “success.” It is used to describe the manner in which something has been accomplished with favorable outcomes or positive results. When someone achieves a goal or completes a task efficiently, we say they have done so successfully.

• Definition: In a manner that results in success or achievement.
• Usage Example:
  • “She launched her business successfully, securing an initial round of funding.”
  • “The negotiations concluded successfully, leading to a beneficial outcome for both parties.”

The correct spelling of “successfully” is essential because it reflects attention to detail, especially in key emails and professional duties.

Succesfully: Definition and Usage

“Succesfully,” on the other hand, is a frequent error and a typical spelling mistake. It is not a recognized word in the English language and results from a typographical error or misunderstanding of spelling rules. 

The word “successfully” includes the root “success” and the suffix “-fully,” which is where the confusion arises.

• Common Usage Error: Many people mistakenly believe the suffix “fully” should be written with two “l”s because they equate it with the standalone word “full.” However, the rule for forming adverbs and adjectives with “-fully” dictates that only one “l” is used.
• Incorrect Example:
  • “She launched her business succesfully.” (Incorrect)

By avoiding this common mistake, you can ensure that your writing remains clear and professional, whether you’re focusing on career tasks or communicating in a vital communication.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Correct Spelling	Incorrect Spelling	Meaning	Usage
Successfully	Succesfully	Adverb, used to describe an action done with success.	“He completed the task successfully.”
N/A	Succesfully	Incorrect spelling; not a word.	“He completed the task succesfully.” (Incorrect)

Key Differences

The key difference between “successfully” and “succesfully” is that “successfully” is the correct spelling, while “succesfully” is a common mistake.

• Successfully: This is the proper form, meaning to accomplish something with good results. It follows standard spelling rules and is recognized in dictionaries and professional writing.
• Succesfully: This is a typical spelling error caused by omitting one of the “c”s. It’s not a valid word and should be avoided in both formal and casual writing.

Everyday Usage Examples

Let’s look at some common examples of how “successfully” is used in regular usage. These sentences illustrate positive outcomes and how actions can be completed in a successful manner:

• “After months of preparation, the team successfully launched the new product.”
• “She successfully managed to secure a better deal for the company.”
• “The project was completed successfully, resulting in a desired outcome for all stakeholders.”
• “The merger successfully helped the company to grow operations in international markets.”

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Popular Synonyms for Successfully

Sometimes, using synonyms for “successfully” can help you add variety to your writing, especially in longer documents. Here are some common synonyms you can use to describe acting successfully or achieving a favorable outcome:

• Effectively
• Efficiently
• Triumphantly
• Admirably
• Productively

5 Sentence Examples

To provide additional clarity, here are example sentences that show how to use “successfully” correctly in various contexts:

1. “He successfully negotiated a favorable deal that saved the company millions.”
2. “They successfully defended their title in the championship game.”
3. “The team successfully completed the project ahead of schedule.”
4. “She successfully transitioned into a new leadership role, expanding operations across regions.”
5. “After several attempts, the software update was successfully installed.”

What Part of Speech Is Successfully?

“Successfully” is an adverb form of “success.” Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs and provide additional context or description to an action or quality. In this case, “successfully” describes how an action has been performed—with success.

• Grammar Category: Adverb
• Usage Example: “She successfully completed the marathon.” (Describes how she completed the marathon.)

Understanding its grammatical role can help you reinforce proper usage in your writing, ensuring your sentences convey positive outcomes clearly and effectively.

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Other Popular Adverbs

In addition to “successfully,” there are several other popular adverbs that can be used in a similar way to modify actions and provide additional clarity. These adverbs are commonly used to describe actions done in a triumphant manner or with favorable outcomes:

• Quickly
• Efficiently
• Clearly
• Carefully
• Gracefully

These adverbs, like “successfully,” can help enhance your writing by providing more context and detail to actions.

Popularity Analysis of Successfully & Succesfully

To better understand the prevalence of spelling errors related to “successfully” and “succesfully,” we can look at data from search engines and writing tools like Grammarly.

According to Google Trends and other digital tools, “successfully” remains the dominant spelling, while “succesfully” occasionally appears due to typographical errors.

Trend Insights

Over the past decade, “successfully” has consistently outperformed “succesfully” in terms of usage frequency. This data highlights that while typical spelling mistakes still happen, writers who pay attention to spelling standards and grammar rules are far more likely to avoid these writing mistakes.

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Tip for Spelling “Successful”

Spelling can often be tricky, but there are a few tips to help you remember the correct spelling of “successful” and its adverbial form “successfully.” One useful trick is to break the word down:

• Mnemonic Tip: “Success is full of success, but only one ‘L’.”

By using this mnemonic, you can easily remember the spelling guidelines for both “successful” and “successfully,” avoiding common mistakes like doubling the “L” inappropriately.

Example Sentences of Successfully: Correct and Incorrect 

Correct Sentences

1. She successfully completed the project ahead of the deadline.
2. The team successfully launched their new product, leading to increased sales.
3. After months of training, he successfully ran the marathon.
4. They successfully negotiated a new contract with their client.
5. The surgery was successfully performed, and the patient recovered quickly.

Incorrect Sentences (with “Succesfully”):

1. She succesfully completed the project ahead of the deadline. ❌
2. The team succesfully launched their new product, leading to increased sales. ❌
3. After months of training, he succesfully ran the marathon. ❌
4. They succesfully negotiated a new contract with their client. ❌
5. The surgery was succesfully performed, and the patient recovered quickly. ❌

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it succesful or successful?

The correct spelling is successful with a double “s” and one “l.” “Succesful” is a common mistake.

Is it correct to say “successfully”?

Yes, successfully is the accurate spelling of the adverb form, used to describe doing something with success.

What is the difference between successful and successfully?

Successful is an adjective, while successfully is an adverb. The first describes a person or thing, and the second describes an action.

How do you spell correctly successfully?

The correct spelling of “successfully” is with a double “c,” double “s,” and one “l.”

What’s The Antonym Of Successfully? 

The antonym of successfully is unsuccessfully. While “successfully” means achieving a desired outcome, “unsuccessfully” indicates failure to reach that goal or objective.

Does successfully have a positive connotation?

Yes, successfully has a positive connotation. It implies that a goal or task has been achieved with favorable outcomes, highlighting accomplishment and effectiveness.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between “successfully” and “succesfully” is key to improving your writing accuracy. Using the right spelling ensures that your important emails, professional duties, and other forms of communication convey competence and attention to detail. By reinforcing the proper grammar and following spelling guidelines, you’ll not only avoid spelling mistakes but also accomplish your goals more effectively.