When do you use the word “usually”? And when do you use the word “often”? There is a big difference between these two words, but sometimes it can be hard to remember which one to use. In this blog post, we will discuss the difference between usually and often, and give you some tips on how to remember which word to use in different situations. Stay tuned!
What is Usually?
- Usually refers to something that is done regularly or habitually. For example, you might say “I usually have a cup of coffee in the morning.” This means that most mornings, you drink coffee.
- Or, you might say “She usually wears a dress to work.” This means that, more often than not, she wears a dress to her job. Usually can also be used to describe something that is expected to happen. For example, “The sun usually rises in the east.” This means that, based on what we know about the Earth’s rotation, we expect the sun to come up in the east every morning.
- Usually is also used as a way of saying “generally speaking.” For example, ” Usually, I’m not a very patient person.” This means that, in general, you’re not patient. But there are always exceptions to the rule – so even if you usually do something, that doesn’t mean it will always happen!
What is Often?
- Often is an adverb that is used to describe how frequently something happens. For example, you might say “I often go for walks in the park” to describe how often you walk in the park.
- Often can also be used to describe how likely something is to happen. For example, “The weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow, but I don’t think it will rain very often.” Often is also used as a substitute for the word “much.”
- For example, “I don’t drink coffee very often.” Often is also used to describe things that are happening a lot or happening more than usual. For example, “There has been a lot of crime in the city lately. The police have been called to the scene of a crime more often.” Lastly, often is used to describe something that is done on a regular basis. For example, “I go to the gym three times a week. I often work out on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
Difference between Usually and Often
- Usually and Often are two words that are often confused when it comes to their usage and meaning. Usually refers to something that happens regularly or normally, whereas Often refers to something that happens frequently or repeatedly.
- Usually is used when referring to a general truth or something that happens most of the time, whereas Often is used when referring to specific occurrences.
- Usually is used more often than Often in spoken English, whereas Often is used more often than Usually in written English. Usually is always followed by a verb in the present tense, whereas Often can be followed by either a verb in the present tense or averb in the past tense. Hope this clears the difference between Usually and Often!
Conclusion
The main difference between usually and often is that usually refers to a specific, infrequent event, while often refers to something that happens regularly. For example, you might say “I only go running usually on weekends” to describe how you generally like to run, but you would say “I often go for runs in the morning” if going for a morning jog is part of your regular routine. Hopefully, this explanation has cleared up any confusion about these two words – be sure to use them correctly in your own writing!
