Respectively

Respectively is an adverb used to indicate that two or more items correspond to one another in the same order as they were mentioned. It signals a mapping between elements in two or more lists or sequences, typically values, descriptions, or outcomes, so that the first item matches the first value, the second item matches the second value, and so on.

Usage and placement

In formal or technical writing, respectively is most commonly attached to the second list or to the end of a sentence to show the correspondence. The standard constructions are: "A and B, respectively" or "The values are X and Y, respectively." It can also follow a full enumeration of items to produce a final, clarifying mapping, as in "The teams were A, B, and C, with scores 75, 88, and 92, respectively." When used, respectively helps avoid repeating nouns or phrases by implying the linkage in order.

Common examples

Alice and Bob won gold and silver, respectively. The lengths of the sides are 3 cm and 5 cm, respectively. In scientific reporting, "The variables were temperature and pressure, measured as 300 K and 1.2 atm, respectively." Misuse often involves unclear ordering or placing respectively after a single item or not aligning the lists, which can confuse readers about which item pairs with which value.

Etymology and overview

Respectively derives from the adjective respectivus, from Latin respectus 'regard' or 'reference,' with the suffix -ly forming an adverb. The term entered English usage in the early modern period and has since remained a formal device for precise correspondence in lists.

Related notes

In casual writing, respectively may be omitted if the mapping is obvious from context. It is less appropriate when the connections between items are not in a clear, parallel order.