Guide 185 / 200 4 alternatives 2-minute read
Better ways to say “frankly”
A candour marker that implicitly confesses the rest of your writing wasn't.
i · Why avoid itTwo lines, no filler
"Frankly" announces bluntness. Problem: it suggests prior sentences were guarded. If the whole piece is honest, the marker is noise. Reserve it for moments where the candour is genuinely earned.
ii · Before & afterDrop-in demo
Before
Frankly, the results are disappointing.
After
The results are disappointing.
iii · The alternatives4 ways out
- 01To be blunt neutral
stronger signal
To be blunt, the results are disappointing.
- 02Plainly neutral
soft candour
Plainly, the results are disappointing.
- 03Honestly informal
informal candour
Honestly, the results are disappointing.
- 04[delete it] neutral
if every line is frank
The results are disappointing.
iv · Brew tipKeep this one
Writing that needs "frankly" probably needs more frankness everywhere else.