Partly vs. Somewhat

Attribute	Partly	Somewhat
Definition	to some extent; not completely	to a moderate degree; not fully
Usage	used to indicate a partial or incomplete action or state	used to suggest a moderate or mild action or state
Intensity	less intense than fully or completely	moderately intense; not strongly
Implication	implies a lesser degree or amount	implies a moderate degree or amount

Definition

Partly and somewhat are two adverbs that are often used interchangeably in everyday language. However, there are subtle differences in their meanings that can affect how they are used in a sentence. Partly is used to indicate that something is only to some extent or partially true, while somewhat is used to indicate a moderate degree or amount of something.

Usage

Partly is typically used when describing something that is incomplete or only partially true. For example, "I am partly responsible for the project's failure" indicates that the speaker is only partially to blame for the failure. On the other hand, somewhat is used to describe something that is moderately true or accurate. For example, "I am somewhat satisfied with the results" indicates that the speaker is moderately satisfied with the results.

Intensity

One key difference between partly and somewhat is the level of intensity they convey. Partly suggests a lower level of intensity or completeness compared to somewhat. For example, "I am partly finished with my homework" suggests that the speaker has only completed a portion of their homework, while "I am somewhat finished with my homework" suggests that the speaker has made more progress.

Subjectivity

Another difference between partly and somewhat is the level of subjectivity they imply. Partly is often used to indicate a subjective opinion or assessment of a situation. For example, "The movie was partly entertaining" suggests that the speaker found the movie to be only partially entertaining. On the other hand, somewhat is used to convey a more objective assessment of a situation. For example, "The movie was somewhat entertaining" suggests that the movie had some entertainment value, regardless of the speaker's personal opinion.

Flexibility

Partly and somewhat also differ in terms of their flexibility in sentence structure. Partly is often used in conjunction with other adverbs or adjectives to provide more specific information about the extent or degree of something. For example, "The project was partly successful, but partly a failure" uses partly to describe both the success and failure of the project. Somewhat, on the other hand, is typically used on its own to convey a moderate degree of something. For example, "I am somewhat tired" stands alone to indicate a moderate level of fatigue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, partly and somewhat are two adverbs that have similar meanings but are used in slightly different contexts. Partly is used to indicate something that is only partially true or incomplete, while somewhat is used to indicate a moderate degree or amount of something. Partly suggests a lower level of intensity and a more subjective assessment, while somewhat implies a more objective assessment and stands alone in a sentence. Understanding the subtle differences between partly and somewhat can help improve clarity and precision in communication.