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Could you advise if the phrase "tell sth. right" is correct grammatically?

Simone
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    My first intuition is that "right" needs to be derived into an adverb. Hence, "tell it rightly". Just as in "Answer the question correctly". *Nevertheless* one might have to take note that the actual use of "tell it right" seems to convey that the speaker should "set it right". Here we often, if not always, find the phrase "set right a wrong" as in make it so that it becomes right. Therefor the adjective "right" might be correct. A native speaker or someone with reference would have to approve. – AverageGatsby Jan 21 '15 at 20:10
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    I'm not clear exactly what you're trying to say. Can you edit your question to provide a complete sentence using this construction, along with a paraphrase of the idea you're trying to get across? I think that might help you get a clear answer. – Sasha Vodnik Jan 22 '15 at 02:39
  • @AverageGatsby No; it doesnlt need transforming into an adverb: it already exists as an adverb (see Joffysloffy's answer). Also, choosing the adverb rightly here would be using it in an odd-sounding way (check the ratio of Google hits for "tell it right" vs "tell it rightly"). Flat adverbs are sometimes preferred (Take it easily for a week or so??). – Edwin Ashworth Jan 22 '15 at 16:13
  • @EdwinAshworth You are right. This is nearly the only situation in which I would consider using "right" well. And if you mean to insinuate something with your second example; no! I am not taking it easy untill I get an appropriate answer to my struggles with this little nuisance espacially as elaborated by me in the comment section of Dans comment, respectively until i have worked out something myself. – AverageGatsby Jan 22 '15 at 17:09

3 Answers3

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As far as I can tell from the dictionary (the New Oxford American Dictionary), it is correct. It says in particular:

right |rīt|
adverb
2 correctly: he had guessed right.
• in the required or necessary way; properly; satisfactorily: nothing's going right for me this season.

Joffysloffy
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"Tell it right," is common in AmE - usually as an admonition to someone relating an anecdote or telling a joke.

Oldbag
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Even Longman DCE (BrE) has right as an adverb and gives in no. 3

  • to guess right (correctly)

  • I thought you would be cross. -- You thought right.

  • Everything's going right for him at the moment.

  • It'll work out right in the end.

http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/right_3

My examples are from DCE in book form.

rogermue
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