All three words in this word confusion are not confused, as they are all without a doubt. You can use them interchangeably.
“Mildred was undoubtedly| undoubtably|indubitably the best ballet dancer of all time.”
Indubitably is a more formal version of impossible to doubt.
Undoubtably is considered non-standard English of impossible to doubt. If you want to get more particular, undoubtable is not capable of being doubted.
Undoubtedly, while impossible to doubt, is definitely, ahem, not doubted.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Indubitably | Undoubtably | Undoubtedly |
|---|---|---|
| Part of Grammar: | ||
| Adverb | Adverb | Adverb |
| [Sentence adverb] Impossible to doubt | Considered non-standard English
Without doubt
|
Certainly or definitely
[Modifier] Without doubt
|
| Examples: | ||
| Indubitably, this outbreak has brought untold hardship to the people of this country.
“However, it is worth noting that the first few sips are indubitably the best” (Few). The answer is indubitably no. “But it is indubitably for his batting that he will be remembered” (Pires). |
“I leave it to all the Protestant Princes of Europe to judge if their safety can be solidly established in their Leagues and Confederations with the Princes of the Roman Communion, as it may be undoubtably effected by their Leagues and Confederations amongst themselves” (Everard, 20).
“This method would undoubtably strike a wholesome terror into the hearts of the working classes” (Parsons). “Maugham suggests that storytelling began when primeval hunters told tales around their fires and turbaned raconteurs held forth in what Sinclair Lewis called the clattering bright bazaars. He’s undoubtably right” (Poore, 18). |
Undoubtedly there will be changes.
He is undoubtedly talented. “Some of that undoubtedly is true” (Grant). “Progress in awareness and understanding has undoubtedly been made” (Campbell). Seats will undoubtedly sell out fast for this one-night performance. |
| Derivatives: | ||
| Adjective: indubitable | Adjective: undoubtable | Adjective: undoubted |
| History of the Word: | ||
| Late Middle English from the Latin indubitabilis, from in- (not) + dubitabilis (from dubitare meaning to doubt). | From Middle English undoutably, equivalent to undoubtable + -ly. | First recorded in 1500–50, undoubted + -ly. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
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Resources for Indubitably vs Undoubtably vs Undoubtedly
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“A Few Good Habits to Help You Age Well.” The Guardian. 21 Apr 2019. Web. 21 July 2023. <https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/apr/21/a-few-good-habits-to-help-you-age-well>.
Apple Dictionary.com
Campbell, Alistair. “Mental Illness is Devastating Lives. Where is the Outrage?” The Guardian. 26 Jan 2016. Web. 21 July 2023. <https://www.theguardian.com/society/commentisfree/2016/jan/26/mental-illness-physical-health-services>.
Collins Dictionary: indubitably, undoubtedly
Dictionary.com: undoubtedly
Everard, Edmund. Discourses on the Present State of the Protestant Princes of Europe. London: Dorman Newman, 1679. <http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A38820.0001.001>. Print.
Grammarist: Indubitably vs undoubtedly
Grant, Stan. “I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas — the Only Real Christmas I Have Known.” The Guardian. 23 Dec 2015. Web. 21 July 2023. <https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/24/im-dreaming-of-a-black-christmas-the-only-real-christmas-i-have-known>.
Parsons, Albert. Autobiography. CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Wikisource. 25 April 2011. Web. 21 July 2023. <https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Albert_Parsons>.
Pires, B.C. “Sir Everton Weekes Obituary.” Obituary. The Guardian. 2 July 2020. Web. 21 July 2023. <https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/jul/02/everton-weekes-obituary>.
Poore, Charles. “Books of The Times: The Curtain Speeches of Somerset Maugham.” New York Times. 5 Oct 1963. Web. 21 July 2023.
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