directly, as soon as
Directly is an adverb meaning “immediately,” or “in a straightforward manner.” It may also be used to mean “very soon.”
- We leave for the cottage directly (immediately) after work every Friday.
- We rarely go directly (straight) there; we often make detours for groceries and sightseeing.
- Instead of getting directly (immediately or straight) to the point, Jack always begins with long-winded explanations.
- I’ll be with you directly (very soon).
British English uses directly as a conjunction equivalent to as soon as, but this colloquial use is not common in Canada.
- Directly (As soon as) we’ve had our tea, we’re off to the pub.
Copyright notice for Writing Tips Plus
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
A tool created and made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada
Search by related themes
Want to learn more about a theme discussed on this page? Click on a link below to see all the pages on the Language Portal of Canada that relate to the theme you selected. The search results will be displayed in Language Navigator.
- Date modified: