How to use "originally"

What Does "originally" Mean?

• What it expresses: "Originally" is an adverb of time and sequence. It indicates the initial state, the first instance of something, or the source from which something arose before changes occurred.
• What part of the sentence it typically modifies: It most frequently modifies verbs (especially past participles) and adjectives, though it can occasionally modify a whole clause to provide historical context.
• Register: This term is neutral to formal. It is equally at home in academic papers, journalistic reports, and everyday professional correspondence.

How to Use It

• Typical sentence positions: The most natural position is mid-position (between the subject and the main verb, or after the first auxiliary verb). It can also appear in the initial position for emphasis or the final position for a softer rhythmic ending.
• What it modifies and how it changes the meaning: It acts as a temporal marker that contrasts a past situation with the present. For example, saying a plan was "originally approved" implies that the approval may have since been rescinded or modified.
• Grammatical flexibility: It is highly flexible. It can be fronted to set the scene ("Originally, the building was a school"), used with negation ("It wasn't originally intended for this"), and used in questions ("Where was it originally located?").
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using "originally" to mean "actually" or "in reality" is a common error. It should only be used when referring to the beginning of a timeline.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from originally on Ludwig.guru.

"The shadow chancellor accused Osborne of resorting to smoke and mirrors to disguise the fact that he will be borrowing £198bn more than originally planned and will not achieve his original goal of a balanced structural current budget until 2018-19." — theguardian.com

"More than 9,000 women were involved originally, and were divided into three groups." — economist.com

"Also, the supporters of the reforms have appropriated 'Obamacare' – originally intended as a derisive label by its opponents – and are now using it with enthusiasm." — theguardian.com

"The news that she was in hospital originally came from the Twitter account of a BBC Urdu reporter Ahmen Khawaja." — theguardian.com

"Trubshaw, who started the programming for MUD alone, originally planned to create a virtual world rather than a game." — theguardian.com

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

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
at first	More common in narrative storytelling; less formal than originally.
initially	A very close synonym often used in technical or formal reports.
primarily	Focuses on the main purpose rather than just the starting time.
formerly	Emphasizes a past state that no longer exists; very formal.
at the outset	A prepositional phrase used to denote the very beginning of a project.
in the beginning	Often carries a literary or grander tone.

Common Mistakes

• Wrong Position: Placing it between a verb and its direct object (e.g., "I read originally the book" instead of "I originally read the book").
• Semantic Confusion: Learners often confuse it with actually or at first, or incorrectly use it as a conjunction to start a sentence without proper clausal support.
• Redundancy: Using it with other words that mean the same thing, such as "originally first started."

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
originally	Temporal marker for initial states	Neutral / Formal	Mid-position (before verb)

FAQs

Where is the best place to put originally in a sentence

The most natural placement for originally is the mid-position, specifically before the main verb or after the first auxiliary verb. While it can be placed at the beginning for emphasis, putting it in the middle ensures the smoothest flow in formal writing.

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How does originally differ from initially

While both refer to the start of a sequence, originally often focuses on the provenance or the very first version of something. In contrast, initially is frequently used to describe a temporary state or a reaction that changed shortly after a process began.

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Can I use originally to mean actually or in fact

No, you should avoid using originally to mean "in reality"; learners often confuse it with actually or at first, or incorrectly use it as a conjunction. It must always relate to a chronological beginning or an initial plan rather than a current clarification of facts.