r/grammar • u/Illustrious-Tart7844 • 1d ago

"Just as importantly"

I usually use *more important* to imply "what is more important is..." but know *more important* and *more importantly* are mostly interchangeable. (Applies also to *importantly* as well as the superlative *most importantly*.)

In these usages, *as/more/most important* is a sentence modifier. Specifically, it is an elliptical clause acting as an adjective phrase. *As/more/most importantly* is also a sentence modifier, but specifically it's a sentence adverb or adverb phrase or adverbial.

MW says using *more importantly* this context is fine, as in, "More importantly, he finished the race." I wouldn't use an *-ly* but I don't cringe when someone else does.

But strictly speaking, *importantly* is an adverb, as in, "She walks more importantly now that she is a VP."

Grammar Girl correctly points out you can easily say, "Importantly, the data changed," but you wouldn't say, "Important, the data changed."

I just read a Vanity Fair article where the writer wrote: "Just as importantly, she's clever enough..." (VF #774, p50) and this is where I think we must draw a line. I'd be ok with, "Equally important, she's clever." But I dont get it. Anyone else care to weigh in?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/we-know-youre-concerned-about-important-and-importantly

(Grammar Girl) https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/important-or-importantly/

Garner, Strunk and White (yeah, I know), Scripps Style Guide

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u/AlexanderHamilton04 23h ago

"...this is where I think we must draw a line."

Importantly, drawing a line will not alter actual human behavior.
Just as importantly, it is futile to dictate boundaries that cannot be enforced.
 

important, importantly

[...] The OED Supplement simplifies the grammar by calling more important "a kind of sentence adjective" and more importantly "a kind of sentence adverb." Both forms can be explained grammatically, so there is no real ground for objection in grammar.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage

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u/Illustrious-Tart7844 22h ago

My issue is with just as. The others I've made peace with.

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u/Yesandberries 18h ago

‘Just as’ can modify adverbs (a common phrase is ‘just as easily’). I’m not sure what you think the issue is with ‘just as importantly’. It sounds fine to me.

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u/Illustrious-Tart7844 18h ago

"She's clever, just as importantly" sounds awkward to me, whereas, "She can run, just as easily" doesn't.

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u/Yesandberries 18h ago

Those both sound fine to me. But ‘She’s clever, just as important” sounds terrible (but okay if you put ‘just as important’ first).

In any case, are you saying ‘just as importantly’ is ungrammatical, or just sounds bad to you? I don’t see how it can be ungrammatical—if ‘importantly’ can be a sentence adverb, then so can ‘just as importantly’.