Meaning & use
extraneously
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Meaning
adverbformal
In a way that is not connected to the main subject or purpose.
Grammar: Used to modify a verb or an entire clause, often after the verb: 'The details were added extraneously.'
Patterns
- add something extraneously
- mention something extraneously
- appear extraneously
The editor removed the paragraphs that had been added extraneously to the report.
He mentioned his vacation plans extraneously during the meeting, which confused everyone.
The new evidence was introduced extraneously and did not affect the court's decision.
Common combinations
- add extraneously
- The professor warned students not to add extraneously to their essays.
- mention extraneously
- She mentioned extraneously that she had once met the author.
- introduce extraneously
- The lawyer tried to introduce extraneously a fact that was not relevant.
- appear extraneously
- In a well-structured essay, no sentence should appear extraneously.
Synonyms and how they differ
- irrelevantly
- Close in meaning, but 'irrelevantly' focuses on lack of connection, while 'extraneously' often implies coming from outside the main matter.
- unnecessarily
- This stresses that something is not needed, whereas 'extraneously' stresses that it is off-topic or extra.
Opposites
Word family
- extraneous adjective
- Not directly connected to the subject; irrelevant or unnecessary.
- extraneousness noun
- The quality of being irrelevant or unnecessary.
Commonly confused: extraneously or externally?
extraneously vs externally
Sounds similar but means 'on the outside' or 'from the outside', not 'irrelevantly'.
Practice
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: The committee decided to remove all comments that were made ______ and did not relate to the budget.
Choose one answer.
'Extraneously' means in an irrelevant or unnecessary way, which fits the context of comments not relating to the budget. 'Externally' means on the outside, 'extraordinarily' means very unusually, and 'extravagantly' means in a wasteful or excessive way, none of which fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “extraneously”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.