All these adverbials are called sentence adverbials because they apply to the whole sentence they are in. They are sometimes called disjuncts in other grammars.
Sentence adverbials are often placed at the beginning of a sentence. Some are also used in other positions, as shown in the examples given below, but they are usually separated from the words around them by intonation or by commas, to show that they apply to the whole sentence.
For more general information about adverbials, see Chapter 6.
Stating what area you are referring to
being specific: financially,…, politically speaking,…
9.57 When you are making it clear what aspect of something you are talking about, you use sentence adverbials formed from classifying adjectives. For example, if you want to say that something is important in the field of politics or from a political point of view, you can say that it is politically important. These adverbials often come in front of an adjective, or at the beginning or end of a clause.
It would have been politically damaging for him to retreat.
Biologically we are not designed for eight hours’ sleep in one block.
We’ve had a very bad year financially.
The following is a list of adverbials that can refer to a particular aspect of something:
academically
aesthetically
biologically
chemically
commercially
constitutionally
culturally
ecologically
economically
emotionally
environmentally
ethically
financially
geographically
ideologically
intellectually
legally
logically
mechanically
mentally
morally
numerically
outwardly
physically
politically
psychologically
racially
scientifically
sexually
socially
spiritually
statistically
superficially
technically
technologically
visually
9.58 Speaking is sometimes added to these adverbials. For example, technically speaking can be used to mean from a technical point of view.
He’s not a doctor, technically speaking.
He and Malcolm decided that, politically speaking, they were in complete agreement.
generalizing: basically, on the whole, etc.
9.59 You often want to avoid making a firm, forceful statement, because you are aware of facts that do not quite fit in with what you are saying.
One way of doing this is to use a sentence adverbial that shows that you are making a general, basic, or approximate statement.
Basically, the older you get, the harder it becomes.
By and large we were allowed to do as we wished.
I think on the whole we don’t do too badly.
The following adverbials are used like this:
all in all
all things considered
altogether
as a rule
at a rough estimate
basically
broadly
by and large
essentially
for the most part
fundamentally
generally
in essence
in general
on average
on balance
on the whole
overall
ultimately
Note that you can also use the expressions broadly speaking, generally speaking, and roughly speaking.
We are all, broadly speaking, middle class.
Roughly speaking, the problem appears to be confined to the tropics.
9.60 You can also use prepositional phrases formed with classifying adjectives, such as in financial terms or from a political point of view. Similar prepositional phrases can be formed using the nouns related to these adjectives, for example using money instead of financial: in money terms, in terms of money, with regard to money, or from the money point of view.
Life is going to be a little easier in economic terms.
That is the beginning of a very big step forward in educational terms.
This state was a late developer in terms of commerce.
9.61 Another way of saying something like with regard to money is money-wise. You add the suffix -wise to a noun referring to the aspect you mean. This is generally used to avoid the creation of long phrases.
What do you want to do job-wise when the time comes?
We are mostly Socialists vote-wise.
Emphasizing
9.62 You may want to emphasize the truth of your statement or to stress the seriousness of the situation you are describing. You can do this using the following sentence adverbials:
above all
actually
at all
believe me
by all means
even
for heaven’s sake
indeed
positively
really
simply
so
surely
to put it mildly
to say the least
truly
without exception
Sometimes we actually dared to penetrate their territory.
Above all, do not be too proud to ask for advice.
Eight years was indeed a short span of time.
I really am sorry.
Believe me, if you get robbed, the best thing to do is forget about it.
Note that indeed is often used after adjectives with very.
I think she is a very stupid person indeed.
At all is used for emphasis in negative clauses, usually at the end.
I didn’t like it at all.
I would not be at all surprised if they turned out to be the same person.
Surely is used when you are appealing for agreement.
Surely it is better to know the truth.
Here, surely, is a case for treating people as individuals.
Even is placed in front of a word or group to draw attention to a surprising part of what you are saying.
Even at midday the air was chilly.
Some men were even singing.
There was no one in the cafe, not even a waiter.
So is used as an emphatic introduction when agreeing or commenting.
‘Derek! It’s raining!’ – ‘So it is.’