Greatly or Grately: Which Is Correct?

Updated 2026-10-12 · Which One Is Correct editorial team

Quick answer: Greatly is the only correct spelling for the adverb meaning to a great degree. The variation grately is a common misspelling that should be avoided in formal writing and communication. Using the right form ensures clarity and professionalism in your text.

The Short Answer

Greatly is the correct adverb meaning to a great degree, while grately is a misspelling.

People confuse these words because they sound identical, and the letters at the end look similar due to the silent e ending both words.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Form	Status	Use it when
greatly	Correct	Use it to modify verbs or adjectives with a sense of degree.
grately	Incorrect	Never use this form in standard English writing.
adverb	Part of speech	Describes how an action is performed with intensity.
universal	Region	Used correctly in all English-speaking regions.

Correct Example Sentences

The athlete ran quickly to finish the race greatly.
She appreciated your help greatly for solving the puzzle.
The storm raged greatly all night long without stopping.
He shouted greatly to warn the crowd about the danger.
The team performed greatly in the championship game.
She sang greatly and touched everyone's heart deeply.
The weather changed greatly during the afternoon hours.
The artist painted greatly to capture the vibrant colors.
He listened greatly to the advice from his wise mentor.
The cake tasted greatly if we add extra vanilla flavor.
They spoke greatly about the importance of honesty.
The sun rose greatly over the calm ocean water.
She learned greatly from her mistakes and grew stronger.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

Many people type grately when they mean to describe doing something at a high level.: Replace the misspelling with greatly to indicate a high degree of an action.
A common error occurs when typing grately instead of greatly in formal writing.: Correct the word to greatly to ensure your message is understood as intended.
Users often confuse the spelling of grately with the proper adverb greatly.: Use the standard spelling greatly to convey that an action is done to a large extent.
If you see grately in a document, it is likely a mistake that needs correction.: Edit the text so that greatly is used to show the intensity of the situation.
The phrase grately sounds similar to greatly but lacks the correct meaning.: Switch to greatly to accurately express that something happens to a great degree.
Typing grately may make your writing look unprofessional to readers.: Change grately to greatly to maintain a polished and correct tone.
Some writers misspell greatly as grately because of the word great.: Remember that the adverb form adds an y to get the right spelling of greatly.
Grately is not a recognized word in standard English dictionaries.: Always choose greatly when you want to mean something is done to a significant extent.
Confusing grately with greatly can lead to clear misunderstandings in your text.: Fix the error by using greatly to describe actions performed with high intensity.

Related Word Pairs

their, there, they're: use their for possession, there for a location, and they're as a contraction of they are
your, you're, yore: choose your to show ownership, you're for you are, and yore only in old tales
its, it's: write its when showing possession and it's when short for it is
who's, whose: pick who's for who is and whose to ask about ownership
to, too, two: say to for direction, too for addition or excess, and two for the number
affect, effect: affect is usually a verb meaning to change something while effect is a noun meaning a result
principal, principle: principal often refers to a main person or amount of money and principle stands for a rule or belief
stationary, stationery: stationary means not moving and stationery refers to paper and writing supplies

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use grately in informal texts?

It is best to avoid using grately even in informal texts. While autocorrect may suggest it, using incorrect spellings can look unprofessional and confuse readers.

What is the origin of the word greatly?

Greatly comes from the adjective great plus the suffix -ly, which turns adjectives into adverbs. This follows standard English rules for forming adverbs.

How do I remember the correct spelling?

Remember that the word great does not contain the letter a before the t. By keeping the spelling of the base word consistent, you avoid the common error of grately.