What Does "consecutively" Mean?
- What it expresses: It is an adverb of manner and time that expresses the idea of following in a regular order or an uninterrupted succession. It indicates that events happen one after another without a gap.
- What part of the sentence it typically modifies: It primarily modifies verbs (to serve consecutively) or adjectives (consecutively numbered).
- Register: This term is formal to neutral. It is frequently found in legal, academic, sporting, and journalistic contexts.
How to Use It
- Typical sentence positions: It most naturally appears in the final position (end of a clause) or mid position (after the auxiliary verb or before the main verb). While it can be fronted for emphasis, this is rare and often sounds strained.
- What it modifies and how it changes the meaning: Adding "consecutively" clarifies that the items in a series are not overlapping and have no interruptions. For example, "winning three games" could mean three games over a season; "winning three games consecutively" means they happened back-to-back.
- Grammatical flexibility: It can be used with negation (e.g., "not consecutively") to indicate a break in a sequence. It is rarely used in simple questions but often appears in complex inquiries regarding schedules or sentencing.
- What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using it to describe a single, isolated event is incorrect; it requires a plurality of actions or items to establish a sequence.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from consecutively on Ludwig.guru.
"In cumulative sentences a defendant convicted on several counts receives a separate sentence for each count; such sentences may run concurrently or consecutively." — britannica.com
"In fact, two calls dialled consecutively from the same spot may connect to two different towers: one close by, the other many miles away." — economist.com
"In 1991, Colombia loosened its ban on re-election: a president can seek a second term but not consecutively." — economist.com
"It's been a privilege to have read consecutively two exceptionally well crafted novels – Jim Crace's Harvest (Picador) and Colum McCann's Transatlantic (Bloomsbury)." — theguardian.com
"The main portion of the design is composed of 36 consecutively numbered rectangular spaces, alternately coloured red and black and arranged in three columns of 12 spaces each, beginning with 1 at the top and concluding with 36 at the bottom." — britannica.com
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/consecutively
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| in a row |
More informal and common in everyday conversation. |
| successively |
Very similar in formality; emphasizes the following of one thing after another. |
| back-to-back |
Idiomatic and slightly less formal; often used in sports or scheduling. |
| sequentially |
Technical and formal; emphasizes a specific, logical order or arrangement. |
| continuously |
Implies a lack of interruption, but lacks the specific 'one-after-another' count. |
Common Mistakes
- Confusion with 'concurrently': Learners often confuse it with 'concurrently', mistakenly using it to mean things happening at the same time rather than one after another. If two prison sentences run consecutively, you serve the second after the first; if they run concurrently, you serve both at once.
- Redundancy: Using it with words like "successive" (e.g., "three successive wins consecutively") is redundant because both words convey the same meaning of back-to-back events.
- Placement with adjectives: When modifying an adjective, it must come before it (e.g., "consecutively numbered"), not after.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| consecutively |
Describes events in an unbroken sequence |
Formal / Neutral |
Mid or Final |
FAQs
Where in a sentence should consecutively appear?
The adverb usually functions best in the final position of a clause or immediately following the verb it modifies. In complex verb phrases, it often sits in the mid position, such as between the auxiliary verb and the main participle.
What is the difference between consecutively and successively?
While both terms describe things following one another, consecutively specifically emphasizes an uninterrupted sequence without gaps. In contrast, successively is a broader term that simply denotes a following in order, even if there are slight breaks between the events.
Can I use consecutively to describe things happening at the same time?
No, you should avoid this as it is a frequent error. Learners often confuse it with concurrently, but consecutively strictly means things happening one after another rather than simultaneously.