Truly vs. Honestly — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 15, 2024
"Truly" emphasizes sincerity and authenticity in expression, while "honestly" often conveys openness and truthfulness in discourse.
Difference Between Truly and Honestly
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Truly" is used to affirm the genuineness or sincerity of a statement or feeling, suggesting deep authenticity. Conversely, "honestly" is often used to introduce a statement that reflects truthfulness or to assert the speaker's integrity.
"Truly" can enhance the depth of an adjective, as in "truly amazing", signifying something genuinely remarkable. On the other hand, "honestly" might preface a personal opinion or confession, indicating straightforwardness, as in "honestly, I disagree".
In expressions of emotion or sentiment, "truly" conveys a profound level of earnestness, such as in "I truly love this". Whereas "honestly" in similar contexts might focus more on the veracity than the depth of the emotion, for example, "honestly, I feel sad".
"Truly" is also used in formal acknowledgments or conclusions, enhancing the sincerity of the statement, like "yours truly". However, "honestly" is less formal and more likely to appear in casual conversation, emphasizing the speaker's desire to be transparent.
When used as an adverb, "truly" modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, intensifying the truthfulness or sincerity of the action, such as "truly believes". "Honestly" modifies statements more to assert transparency or to correct a potential misunderstanding, as in "honestly speaking".
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Comparison Chart
Primary Usage
To affirm sincerity or authenticity
To assert truthfulness or transparency
Common Contexts
Enhancing adjectives, formal conclusions
Prefacing opinions, casual conversations
Emotional Connotation
Emphasizes depth of sincerity
Focuses on clarity and straightforwardness
Formality
More formal, often used in written signatures
Less formal, frequent in spoken language
Example in a Sentence
"I am truly sorry for the inconvenience."
"Honestly, I didn’t mean to offend anyone."
Compare with Definitions
Truly
In a truthful, genuine manner.
She truly understands the gravity of the situation.
Honestly
In a manner that conveys truthfulness.
Honestly, I never saw who took the book.
Truly
Used to enhance the meaning of an adjective.
That was a truly spectacular performance.
Honestly
Expressing frankness or openness.
She spoke honestly about her feelings.
Truly
To signify authenticity and reality.
This story is truly inspiring.
Honestly
To emphasize the truth of a statement.
I honestly don’t remember the details.
Truly
As a formal sign-off in correspondence.
Yours truly, Jonathan.
Honestly
Used to introduce a candid statement or opinion.
Honestly, I think we should try a different approach.
Truly
Used to emphasize the sincerity of a feeling or statement.
He is truly remorseful for his actions.
Honestly
Indicating sincerity in a casual context.
Honestly, it’s been a tough week.
Truly
In a truthful way
He speaks truly
Honestly
In an honest manner.
Truly
To the fullest degree; genuinely or properly
Management does not truly understand about the residents
Honestly
Used as an intensive
I honestly don't care.
Truly
In actual fact or without doubt; really
This is truly a miracle
Honestly
Used to express mild disapproval or dismay
Honestly! Look at the mess you've made.
Truly
Loyally or faithfully
Why cannot all masters be served truly?
Honestly
(manner) In an honest manner.
He answered the questions honestly.
Truly
Sincerely; genuinely
We are truly sorry for the inconvenience.
Honestly
Frankly, to be honest.
Honestly, I didn't believe a word she said.
Truly
Truthfully; accurately
Reported the matter truly.
Honestly
Used to express exasperation, dismay, etc.
Honestly! I want to finish this work and you keep interrupting.
Truly
Indeed
Truly ugly.
Honestly
Honorably; becomingly; decently.
Truly
Properly
Not truly civilized.
Honestly
In an honest manner; as, a contract honestly made; to live honestly; to speak honestly.
Truly
(manner) In accordance with the facts; truthfully, accurately.
Honestly
(used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that;
Honestly, I don't believe it
Candidly, I think she doesn't have a conscience
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn
Truly
(modal) Honestly, genuinely, in fact, really.
That is truly all I know.
Truly, that is all I know.
Honestly
In an honest manner;
In he can't get it honestly, he is willing to steal it
Was known for dealing aboveboard in everything
Truly
(degree) Very.
You are truly silly.
Truly
In a true manner; according to truth; in agreement with fact; as, to state things truly; the facts are truly represented.
I can not truly say how I came here.
Truly
Exactly; justly; precisely; accurately; as, to estimate truly the weight of evidence.
Truly
Sincerely; honestly; really; faithfully; as, to be truly attached to a lover; the citizens are truly loyal to their prince or their country.
Truly
Conformably to law; legally; legitimately.
His innocent babe [is] truly begotten.
Truly
In fact; in deed; in reality; in truth.
Beauty is excelled by manly graceAnd wisdom, which alone is truly fair.
Truly
In accordance with truth or fact or reality;
She was now truly American
A genuinely open society
They don't really listen to us
Truly
By right;
Baseball rightfully is the nation's pastime
Truly
With sincerity; without pretense;
She praised him sincerely for his victory
Was unfeignedly glad to see his old teacher
We are truly sorry for the inconvenience
Truly
In fact (used as intensifiers or sentence modifiers);
In truth, moral decay hastened the decline of the Roman Empire
Really, you shouldn't have done it
A truly awful book
Common Curiosities
Can "honestly" be used in formal writing?
"Honestly" is typically more casual and less common in formal writing.
What is the difference in emotional impact between "truly" and "honestly"?
"Truly" often carries a deeper emotional impact, implying sincerity, while "honestly" emphasizes transparency.
Is "truly" appropriate in professional emails?
Yes, "truly" can be used in professional contexts, often in closures like "yours truly".
Is "truly" used more in British or American English?
"Truly" is common in both, but its formal usage might appear slightly more in British English.
What is a common mistake when using "honestly"?
Overusing "honestly" can sometimes undermine the perceived sincerity of the speaker.
What does "truly" imply in a statement?
"Truly" implies a deep level of authenticity or sincerity.
Can "honestly" imply impatience or frustration?
Yes, "honestly" can sometimes convey impatience or exasperation in speech.
Does "truly" enhance the quality of adjectives?
Yes, "truly" is used to intensify the meaning of adjectives, making them more profound.
How does "truly" affect the perception of a statement?
"Truly" can lend a statement a more profound or heartfelt quality.
Can "honestly" start a sentence?
Yes, "honestly" often starts sentences, especially when introducing a frank opinion.
In what contexts might "honestly" be inappropriate?
"Honestly" might be seen as too casual or blunt in very formal or sensitive contexts.
How does "honestly" affect the tone of a conversation?
"Honestly" can make a conversation appear more open and straightforward.
What is the effect of using "honestly" in apologies?
Using "honestly" in apologies can underscore the speaker's transparency and directness.
Does "truly" have synonyms that convey a similar sincerity?
Synonyms like "genuinely" or "sincerely" can similarly convey sincerity.
How does the usage of "truly" differ from "honestly" in emotional contexts?
In emotional contexts, "truly" enhances sincerity, while "honestly" focuses on truthfulness.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
