diagnosticly

Diagnosticly is an adverb formed from the adjective diagnostic. In modern English, the standard adverb is diagnostically; diagnosticly is uncommon and is generally regarded as nonstandard or archaic in many contexts. When used, diagnosticly typically means performing an action in a manner related to making or testing a diagnosis, or describing information within a diagnostic context. The term is more likely to appear in older medical writings, regional usage, or as a stylistic variant in inventive or nonstandard prose.

Etymology and form: diagnosticly builds on diagnostic, which comes from the Greek diagnosticos, related to diagnosis, from dia- (through) + gnosis (knowledge or knowing). The expected adverbial form in contemporary usage is diagnostically; diagnosticly lacks wide acceptance as a standard variant.

Usage and reception: Because diagnostically is the preferred form in most contemporary sources, diagnosticly may be flagged as informal or incorrect in formal writing and style guides. Some historians of language and medical historians encounter diagnosticly in older texts or as a nonstandard variant, but it is rarely used in modern professional publication.

Examples: The clinician approached the case diagnostically, examining symptoms, tests, and imaging to infer the underlying condition. In contrast, a writer might attempt diagnosticly to convey a sense of examination in a diagnostic frame, though diagnostically would be the clearer choice.

See also: diagnostic, diagnostician, diagnosis, diagnostic method, diagnostically.