Adverbial form of "timely"

Question

The following sentence seems incorrect to me, because the adjective timely is being used as an adverb:

Payments not received timely will be returned and additional interest will be due.

That said, does timely even have an adverbial form? Timelyly?

I don't think there's an adverbial form based on time - we use the word promptly. — FumbleFingers, Jan 22 '13 at 18:15
"Does timely even have an adverbial form? Timelyly?" Well ... it does now ... — MetaEd, Jan 22 '13 at 18:16
Related: http://english.stackexchange.com/q/18635/8019 ( in timely fashion) — Tim Lymington, Jan 22 '13 at 23:37
My spelling teacher would probably have said timely becomes timelily. Just as happy becomes happily and so on. — GEdgar, Jan 25 '13 at 21:21
@GEdgar of course. Thanks for the clarification (that should have been obvious). I think we've collectively created a new adverb — Eric Nelson, Jan 26 '13 at 02:43
@GEdgar Usually there is an exception made for adjectives ending in "ly": bodily, lovely, worldly, etc., do not have adverb forms. — augurar, Aug 09 '14 at 04:54

score 13 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 22 '13 at 18:26

13

On time is surely the adverbial phrase that would be used in most cases. John Lawler would doubtless say that striving for a single related adverb (central though this usage would be in this case) is not a wise use of time.

answered Jan 22 '13 at 18:26

Edwin Ashworth

83,272

I was pleasantly impressed to read all the great suggestions—promptly, timeously, punctually; even the original timely. But I think this one best captures the notion of a strict deadline for those payments. Thanks everyone. – Eric Nelson Jan 23 '13 at 01:29

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 22 '13 at 20:20

8

You could use "timeously". The word is often used in formal documents in Scotland, but is obscure in the rest of the Anglosphere.

answered Jan 22 '13 at 20:20

donothingsuccessfully

2,479
15
15

It takes four syllables to say this, right? – Eric Nelson Jan 23 '13 at 01:22
1

@EricNelson: Yes, four syllables. But it takes six to say "in a timely manner" by my count. – donothingsuccessfully Jan 23 '13 at 08:11
@EricNelson Actually it's three syllables. It's not that obscure, I've read it and heard it here in Australia. – Gaston Ümlaut Oct 30 '13 at 21:48

score 4 · Answer 3 · edited Jan 25 '13 at 21:16

4

You can use timely as an adverb to mean "in time", though this is not so common.

edited Jan 25 '13 at 21:16

RegDwigнt

97,231

answered Jan 22 '13 at 18:19

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 22 '13 at 22:11

2

I'd suggest:

Payments not received punctually will be returned...

answered Jan 22 '13 at 22:11

Fraser Orr

16,783

Payments not received on time... – GEdgar Jan 25 '13 at 21:22

Adverbial form of "timely"

4 Answers4

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