How to use "admittedly"

What Does "admittedly" Mean?

• Grammatical function: "Admittedly" is a sentence adverb used to express concession. It signals that the speaker or writer is acknowledging a fact that might seem to contradict their main point or weaken their argument, but which they are willing to accept as true.
• Typical sentence position: It is highly versatile and can appear in the initial position (starting a sentence), medial position (within a clause, often set off by commas), or final position (as an afterthought).
• Register: It is generally neutral to formal. While common in journalism and academic writing, it is also frequently used in educated speech.

How to Use It

• Syntactic patterns: When used at the start of a sentence, it is typically followed by a comma and a full independent clause. In the middle of a sentence, it often functions as a parenthetical insertion.
• Punctuation rules: In almost all positions, "admittedly" is set off by commas to indicate its status as a comment on the rest of the sentence. For example: "The task, admittedly, was difficult."
• Grammatical flexibility: It can start a sentence, be moved to the end, or be tucked between the subject and the verb. It cannot be easily negated (you wouldn't say "unadmittedly"); instead, you would change the connector.
• What sounds unnatural: Using "admittedly" to describe an action rather than a fact (e.g., "He admittedly the crime" is incorrect; it should be "He admitted to the crime").

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from admittedly on Ludwig.guru.

"Admittedly, my love of dinosaurs is a little more intense than is typical." — The Guardian

"It would be a first at the Oscars, admittedly, but it's the only way to do justice to this most complex of issues." — The Guardian

"Which, of course, puts more pressure on parents to help their kids create firm foundations – and admittedly you can't always prevent your kids making mistakes." — The Guardian

"Bottles of the Old Vine's precious wine – which is admittedly undrinkable – have been presented to popes, presidents, emperors … and Brad Pitt." — The Guardian

"Admittedly it was years after I'd left school and, in hindsight, a poor fashion decision." — The Guardian

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/admittedly

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
it is true that	More explicit and formal; often used to start a paragraph before a 'but'.
to be fair	More informal and conversational; used to provide balance to a criticism.
granted	Highly concise; used at the start of a sentence to concede a point immediately.
albeit	Used to link a subordinate clause or adjective phrase, meaning "even though."
of course	Suggests the conceded point is obvious to everyone.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing with the verb: Learners often use it as a simple intensifier for 'admitted' rather than as a transitional device to introduce a concession. Do not say "He was admittedly of the theft" when you mean "He admitted the theft."
• Missing Punctuation: Failing to set the word off with commas when it appears medially can make the sentence difficult to parse.
• Overuse in Argumentation: Using it too frequently can make an author seem defensive or unsure of their primary thesis.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
admittedly	Concession	Neutral / Formal	Initial, Medial, or Final

FAQs

Where can admittedly be placed in a sentence?

The word admittedly is highly flexible and can appear in the sentence-initial position followed by a comma, mid-clause as a parenthetical insertion, or at the end of a statement. Regardless of its position, it usually requires punctuation like commas or dashes to separate it from the main clause.

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How does admittedly differ from granted?

While both express concession, granted is often used more strictly at the beginning of a thought to yield a point before pivoting with "but" or "however." Admittedly feels more like a personal acknowledgment or a comment on a specific adjective or fact within the flow of a sentence.

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Can admittedly be used to mean someone confessed to something?

No, learners often mistakenly use admittedly as an intensifier for the verb "admitted," but it is actually a discourse marker. It should be used to introduce a concession that might challenge your argument, rather than to describe the act of someone confessing a crime or mistake.