usual - usually

usual - usually
◊ 'usual'
Usual is used to describe the thing that happens most often, or that is done or used most often, in a particular situation.

They are not taking the usual amount of exercise.

He sat in his usual chair.

The machine started with its usual clatter.

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Usual normally comes after `the' or a possessive. You do not use it after `a'.
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You can say that it is usual for a person or animal to do something.

It is usual for union representatives to meet regularly.

It was quite usual for the ponies to wander short distances.

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You do not say that it is `usual that' a person or animal `does' something.
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◊ 'ordinary'
You do not use usual to say something is not of a special kind. You do not say, for example, `I haven't got any chocolate biscuits, only usual ones'. You say `I haven't got any chocolate biscuits, only ordinary ones'.

These children should be educated in an ordinary school.

It was furnished with ordinary office furniture.

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◊ 'usually'
You use the adverb usually when you are mentioning the thing that most often happens in a particular situation.

She usually found it easy to go to sleep at night.

He realized he was talking more freely than he usually did with strangers.

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◊ 'as usual'
When something happens on a particular occasion and it is the thing that most often happens in that situation, you can say that it happens as usual.

Nino sounded a little drunk, as usual.

She wore, as usual, her black dress.

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You do not say that something happens `as usually'.
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Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • usual — usually, adv. usualness, n. /yooh zhooh euhl, yoohzh weuhl/, adj. 1. habitual or customary: her usual skill. 2. commonly met with or observed in experience; ordinary: the usual January weather. 3. commonplace; everyday: He says the usual things.… …   Universalium

  • usual — [yo͞o′zhə wəl, yo͞ozh′wəl] adj. [ME < MFr < LL usualis < L usus: see USE] such as is in common or ordinary use; such as is most often seen, heard, used, etc.; common; ordinary; customary SYN. NORMAL as usual in the usual way usually adv …   English World dictionary

  • usually — (adv.) late 15c., from USUAL (Cf. usual) + LY (Cf. ly) (2) …   Etymology dictionary

  • usually — [adv] for the most part as a rule, as is the custom, as is usual, as usual, by and large, commonly, consistently, customarily, frequently, generally, habitually, in the main, mainly, more often than not, mostly, most often, normally, now and… …   New thesaurus

  • Usually — Usual U su*al, a. [L. usualis, from usus use: cf. F. usuel. See {Use}, n.] Such as is in common use; such as occurs in ordinary practice, or in the ordinary course of events; customary; ordinary; habitual; common. [1913 Webster] Consultation with …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • usual — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ habitually or typically occurring or done. ► NOUN informal 1) the drink someone habitually prefers. 2) the thing which is typically done or present. DERIVATIVES usually adverb. ORIGIN Latin usualis, from usus a use …   English terms dictionary

  • usually — usual ► ADJECTIVE ▪ habitually or typically occurring or done. ► NOUN informal 1) the drink someone habitually prefers. 2) the thing which is typically done or present. DERIVATIVES usually adverb. ORIGIN Latin usualis, from usus a use …   English terms dictionary

  • usual — u|su|al W2S2 [ˈju:ʒuəl, ˈju:ʒəl] adj [Date: 1300 1400; : Late Latin; Origin: usualis, from Latin usus; USE1] 1.) happening, done, or existing most of the time or in most situations ▪ Make a cheese sauce in the usual way. ▪ I ll meet you at the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • usual — 01. In Japan, it is quite [usual] for newly married couples to move in with the husband s parents. 02. July in Seattle has been [unusually] cold and wet this year, and people are getting impatient to see the sun. 03. It is [usual] to tip between… …   Grammatical examples in English

  • usual — u|su|al [ juʒuəl ] adjective *** normal or typical of what happens or what people do in most situations: She gave us her usual polite smile. Dan was wearing his usual T shirt and blue jeans. more/better/worse etc. than usual: The journey to work… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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