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Partly or partially?
Partly:
adverb - as a part of, in part; not
wholly, but to some extent.
Partially:
adverb - to some extent, partly, in
part, not completely; biased, partial, unfair, unjust; (now a rare usage) -
with special affection or favour.
Yet
another English pairing which excites some into defending the use of one
against the other, when, in most respects, they’re interchangeable.
If
you’re discussing something that’s not complete, you can use either. Only if
you’re talking about preference, justice, fairness etc., do you need to be
certain to use ‘partially’. Think of its antonym, ‘impartial’, which means
‘neutral’ and it should help avoid any confusion.
So:
‘The
leg of the buried body was partly exposed when Genevieve’s dog dug around the
mound in the forest.’
‘Genevieve’s
leg was partially exposed when Gordon shifted the sheet before he slipped in
beside her.’
But:
‘The
judge treated Mary partially, giving her a non-custodial sentence when she
flashed her most inviting and provocative smile at him.’
5 September 1946 Queen singer, Freddie Mercury was born: sobering to
think that, had he live, he would have been 65 and therefore an old age
pensioner today.
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