correctly

Q: Is it correct to say "He did the work correct."?

No — say "He did the work correctly.". Learners often use the adjective 'correct' when the adverb 'correctly' is required to modify a verb.

Definition

adv. in a way that is right or accurate. You use this when someone follows the rules or gives the right answer.

adv. in a manner that is accurate, right, or appropriate according to a standard or fact.

simple

“Please make sure you spell your name correctly.”

contextual

“If you follow the instructions correctly, the machine should start working immediately.”

complex

“The software is designed to alert the user if the data has not been entered correctly into the required fields.”

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “correctly” in context.

01. correctly answer 02. correctly assess 03. correctly describe 04. correctly identify 05. correctly interpret 06. correctly perform 07. correctly point 08. correctly predict 09. correctly read 10. correctly report 11. correctly solve 12. correctly use

Manner adverb — typically placed after the verb or the direct object.

He did the work correct.

He did the work correctly.

Learners often use the adjective 'correct' when the adverb 'correctly' is required to modify a verb.

From correct + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

NOUN

ADJECTIVE