Pronunciation: [ʃˈɔːtli] (IPA) 
Shortly is a commonly used adverb that means soon or in a brief amount of time. The IPA phonetic transcription of shortly is /ˈʃɔːtli/. The spelling of this word includes the letter combination of "sh" which is pronounced as /ʃ/ and the letter "o" which is pronounced as /ɔː/. The letter "r" also appears twice, pronounced as a retroflex sound /r/. Lastly, the word ends with the letters "ly" which indicate it is an adverb.
Shortly is an adverb that is used to indicate a short period of time or a brief duration. It describes something that will occur or happen in the near future or in a prompt manner. It implies that the wait or delay will not be for an extended period, but rather for a short time span.
This word often conveys a sense of urgency or immediacy, suggesting that something will happen efficiently and promptly. It can be synonymous with words like soon, briefly, momentarily, or in a little while. The exact time frame or duration of "shortly" may vary depending on the context and situation.
For example, if someone says they will be with you shortly, it implies that they will arrive or join you in a quick and timely manner. In a similar vein, when used in written communication, "shortly" indicates that a response or action can be expected within a relatively short timeframe.
Additionally, "shortly" can also convey a sense of conciseness or brevity. It might explain that a task or event will be completed in a concise and efficient manner, without unnecessary delays. In this context, it can suggest that there will be no lengthy delays or digressions.
• Short-sighted.
• Shortness.
• Soon; briefly.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word shortly originated from the Old English word sceortlice, which was derived from sceort (short) and the suffix -lice (meaning in the manner of or in a short time). Over time, the spelling and pronunciation changed, leading to the modern word shortly.
