Stance and viewpoint adverbials

• Stance and viewpoint adverbials allow speakers to comment on the content of an utterance or frame the perspective from which a statement is made. They add sophistication and precision to advanced discourse.
• Adverbial
• Function
• Example sentence
• Frankly
• Expressing honest, direct opinion
• Frankly, the dinner party in Austin lacked any genuine charm.
• Ironically
• Highlighting an unexpected contradiction
• Ironically, the host was the first one to check his phone.
• Tellingly
• Revealing an unspoken truth
• Tellingly, no thank-you notes were sent after the event in Boston.
• Understandably
• Justifying a natural reaction
• Understandably, Samantha felt put out by such boorish behavior.
• Technically speaking
• Refining a statement by precise definition
• Technically speaking, queue-jumping is not illegal in Chicago.
• Remember
• Place stance adverbials at the front of the clause, separated by a comma, to modify the entire proposition.
• Viewpoint adverbials often frame the professional, legal, or technical angle of the statement.
• Use them to inject nuance and subtle authorial attitude into formal or semi-formal discussions.
• Examples
• Frankly, modern manners in Seattle have deteriorated.
• Tellingly, the guests left early without saying goodbye.
• From a legal standpoint, the contract breach was minor.
• Common mistakes
• Frankly I think table manners are dying.
• Frankly, I think table manners are dying.

Complete the sentences

• (frank) ____ , the gala in New York lacked any grace.
• (irony) ____ , the etiquette expert committed a huge blunder.
• (tell) ____ , nobody held the door for the elderly woman in Denver.
• (understand) ____ , Ethan was put out by the late RSVP.
• (technical) ____ , she did not violate any strict rules in Portland.
• (legal) ____ , the venue owed the patrons an apology.

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