Is the word “hopefully” unjustly treated? We don’t like the sentence:
“Hopefully, my ship is just over the horizon and due in real soon now.”
But we don’t mind saying:
“Happily, the tree fell on that eyesore shed.”
“Sadly, the swallows have not returned.”
Why is “hopefully” so unwelcome at the adverb party?
ObJoke: From The New Yorker a few years ago, to illustrate proper use of “hopefully:”
Dad (shaving): Ouch! Damn! Son: What's wrong? Dad: I cut my chin! Son (hopefully): Off?
Answer
I don’t see anything wrong with the first example sentence using hopefully
“Hopefully, my ship is just over the horizon and due in real soon now.”
In fact, I don’t see why hopefully can’t be used in place of any of the other adverbs in the other sentences mentioned.
IMHO, hopefully is welcome at all the adverb parties that I will be throwing.
-EDIT-
To cite the related answer on this site about this usage of the word..
“It is prevalent enough to be considered correct”
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : Pete Wilson , Answer Author : MikeVaughan
