Interestingly, the solution adopted in these two countries was the same.
The following adverbials are commonly used in this way:
absurdly
admittedly
alas
anyway
astonishingly
at least
characteristically
coincidentally
conveniently
curiously
fortunately
happily
incredibly
interestingly
ironically
luckily
mercifully
miraculously
mysteriously
naturally
oddly
of course
paradoxically
please
predictably
remarkably
sadly
significantly
strangely
surprisingly
true
typically
unbelievably
understandably
unexpectedly
unfortunately
unhappily
unnecessarily
One of the uses of at least and anyway is to show that you are pleased about a particular fact, although there may be other less desirable facts.
At least we’re agreed on something.
I like a challenge anyway, so that’s not a problem.
9.81 There are a few commenting adverbials that are often followed by enough when used to show your opinion of what you are talking about:
curiously
funnily
interestingly
oddly
strangely
Oddly enough, she’d never been abroad.
Funnily enough, I was there last week.
distancing and being more specific
9.82 There are several commenting adverbials that have the effect of showing that you are not completely committed to the truth of your statement.
Rats eat practically anything.
It was almost a relief when the race was over.
They are, in effect, prisoners in their own homes.
In a way I liked her better than Mark.
The following adverbials are used in this way:
almost
in a manner of speaking
in a way
in effect
more or less
practically
so to speak
to all intents and purposes
to some extent
up to a point
virtually
Note that almost, practically, and virtually are not used at the beginning of a clause.
Expressions such as I think, I believe, and I suppose are also used to show your lack of commitment to the truth of what you are saying.
indicating your point of view
9.83 With adverbs such as luckily, fortunately, happily, and unfortunately, you can show whose point of view you are giving by adding for and a noun phrase referring to the person.
‘Does he do his fair share of the household chores?’ – ‘Oh yes, fortunately for me.’ Luckily for me and them, love did eventually grow and flourish.
indicating a quality shown by the performer of an action
9.84 Another group of commenting adverbials is used to show a quality you think someone showed by doing an action. They are formed from adjectives that can be used to describe people, and are often placed after the subject of the sentence and in front of the verb.
The League of Friends generously provided about five thousand pounds.
The doctor had wisely sent her straight to hospital.
She very kindly arranged a delicious lunch.
Foolishly, we had said we would do the decorating.
The following adverbials are used in this way:
bravely
carelessly
cleverly
correctly
foolishly
generously
helpfully
kindly
rightly
wisely
wrongly
mentioning your justification for a statement
9.85 If you are basing your statement on something that you have seen, heard, or read, you can use a commenting adverbial to show this. For example, if you can see that an object has been made by hand, you might say It is obviously made by hand.
His friend was obviously impressed.
Higgins evidently knew nothing about their efforts.
Apparently they had a row.
These are some common adverbials used in this way:
apparently
clearly
evidently
manifestly
obviously
plainly
unmistakably
visibly
showing that you assume your hearer agrees
9.86 People often use commenting adverbials to persuade someone to agree with them. In this way, they show that they are assuming that what they are saying is obvious.
Obviously I can’t do the whole lot myself.
Price, of course, is an important factor.
The following adverbials are often used in this way:
clearly
naturally
obviously
of course
plainly
indicating reality or possibility
9.87 Some adverbials are used to show whether a situation actually exists or whether it seems to exist, or might exist.
She seems confident but actually she’s quite shy.
They could, conceivably, be right.
Extra cash is probably the best present.
The following adverbials are used like this:
actually
certainly
conceivably
definitely
doubtless
hopefully
in fact
in practice
in reality
in theory
maybe
no doubt
officially
perhaps
possibly
presumably
probably
really
unofficially
~
allegedly
apparently
nominally
ostensibly
potentially
seemingly
supposedly
theoretically
undoubtedly
The adverbials in the second group are often used in front of adjectives.
We drove along apparently empty streets.
It would be theoretically possible to lay a cable from a satellite to Earth.
indicating your attitude
9.88 If you want to make it clear what your attitude is to what you are saying, you can use a commenting adverbial.
Frankly, the more I hear about him, the less I like him.
In my opinion it was probably a mistake.
In fairness, she is not a bad mother.
Here is a list of some of the common adverbials used in this way:
as far as I’m concerned
frankly
honestly
in all honesty
in fairness
in my opinion
in my view
in retrospect
on reflection
personally
seriously
to my mind
using infinitive clauses