The word "unnecessarily" is spelled with four syllables: "un-ne-ces-sa-ri-ly" /ʌnˈnɛs.ə.sər.ə.li/. The first syllable "un" is pronounced with a short "u" sound, while the second syllable "ne" is pronounced with a long "e" sound. The third and fourth syllables, "ces" and "sa," both have a soft "s" sound before the vowel "a." The final syllable "ri-ly" is pronounced with a long "i" sound and a silent "e" at the end. Paying attention to each syllable can make mastering the spelling of this word easier.
Unnecessarily is an adverb that describes an action, behavior, or occurrence that is done, conducted, or taken without any genuine need, purpose, or justification. It implies that the action or behavior was carried out in an excessive or superfluous manner, surpassing what is reasonable or logical.
In various contexts, unnecessarily emphasizes the absence of necessity, either due to the action being redundant, surplus, or exceeding the requirement. It suggests that the particular action or behavior could have been avoided or omitted, without any negative consequences or adverse effects. The term can be used to critique or express disapproval towards actions that are seen as wasteful, inefficient, or lacking purpose.
For instance, in a scientific experiment, adding an excess amount of a certain substance that does not contribute to the results or alter the outcome can be considered unnecessarily. Similarly, in a debate or argument, bringing up irrelevant points or delving into unrelated matters can be seen as unnecessarily prolonging the discussion without adding any value.
In summary, unnecessarily denotes actions or behaviors that are superfluous, redundant, or excessive, going beyond what is required or justified. It implies that such actions could have been avoided or omitted without any negative consequences or adverse effects.
Needlessly.
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 unnecessarily is derived from the combination of two words: unnecessary and the suffix -ly.
The term unnecessary dates back to the late 14th century and is formed by adding the prefix un- (meaning not) to the word necessary, which comes from the Latin word necessarius. Necessarius is derived from the Latin word necessitas, meaning constraint or compulsion.
The suffix -ly is added to adjectives to form adverbs, giving the word the meaning of in an unnecessary manner. It has Old English origins and is related to the German -lich and the Dutch -lijk.