importantly

Importantly is an adverb used to signal that a point is significant or worthy of emphasis in both spoken and written English. It often introduces information the speaker or writer wants the audience to remember, sometimes functioning as a sentence adverb at the start of a clause or sentence.

Origin and form: The word is formed from the adjective important with the suffix -ly. It has been part of English for centuries and is commonly used in formal, analytical, or journalistic writing to mark salient information.

Usage and nuance: Importantly typically precedes the clause it highlights, as in "Importantly, the results held after controlling for age." It can also appear mid-sentence or at the beginning of a paragraph. Some editors and style guides prefer stronger alternatives such as "most importantly" or "significantly," depending on tone and emphasis. Overuse can seem contrived or hedging, so it is often best used sparingly.

Pronunciation: Importantly is pronounced im-PORT-uhnt-lee.

Examples: Importantly, the study controlled for confounding variables. The policy reduces costs; importantly, it does not sacrifice quality. Importantly, these findings may not generalize to all populations.