thus.
“Thus” has four meanings: (1) in this or that manner {one does it thus}; (2) so {thus far}; (3) hence, consequently; and (4) as an example. In senses 3 and 4, “thus,” when it begins a clause, should usually have a comma after it.
“Thus” itself being an adverb, it needs no “-ly.” Although the nonword *”thusly” has appeared in otherwise respectable writing, it remains a serious lapse — e.g.:
o “Jackson, a counterpuncher by nature, responded thusly [read ‘thus’] yesterday to such thoughts: ‘His people may think this is a circus, but . . . .'” Ron Borges, “Jackson Has a Rallying Cry vs. Lewis: ‘No Surrender,'” Boston Globe, 5 May 1994, at 79.
o “A Seattle critic once reviewed Bosworth’s big movie debut thusly [read ‘thus’]: ‘To call “Stone Cold” garbage is to give garbage a bad name.'” Andy Edelstein, “The TV-Jock Hall of Fame,” Newsday (N.Y.), 6 Apr. 1997, at C16.
o “He does not plan on becoming the next No. 1 singles champion in college as is his brother Ty and thusly [read ‘thus’] does not seek to put in that much work.” Herky Cush, “Multi-Sport Existence Proves Just Bliss-Ful,” Orlando Sentinel, 25 May 1997, at 11.
Language-Change Index — *”thusly” for the adverb “thus”: Stage 2.
*Invariably inferior form.
For information about the Language-Change Index click here.
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Quotation of the Day: “Writers of legislation often take refuge, like compilers of a thesaurus, behind a barricade of more or less synonymous words . . . . Thus, the New York State Penal Law places sanctions against materials that are ‘obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, indecent, sadistic, masochistic, or disgusting’ or that appeal to ‘the prurient interest’ of the average members of the community; but just what kinds of materials these are . . . is defined or redefined only each time a court decides a case.” Louis B. Salomon, Semantics 41 n.1 (1966).
