There are 165,000 search results on Bing for the misspelling 'Publically'. 'Publically' ranks in the top 20 of most common errors caught by TripleChecker, with at least 2,088 websites containing this mistake.¹
The word "publicly" is an adverb. It describes the manner in which an action is performed, specifically indicating that something is done in a way that is accessible to or done in front of the general public. The definition of "publicly" is in a manner that is open and visible to everyone, not concealed or private.
Publicly
The word 'publicly' originates from the Latin word 'publicus', which means 'of the people' or 'belonging to the people'. The term evolved through Middle English, where it was formed as 'publicly' to denote actions or behaviors done in a way that is open or accessible to all.
The word "publicly" is pronounced as /ˈpʌb.lɪ.kli/. It can be broken down into three syllables: pub-lic-ly.
The word 'publicly' can be used in a sentence such as, "She expressed her opinions publicly during the town hall meeting." When using 'publicly,' it's important to ensure the context reflects openness or visibility to the general audience, and to be mindful of its spelling, particularly the double 'c' and single 'l,' to avoid common misspellings. Additionally, 'publicly' is often confused with 'publically,' which is considered incorrect in standard English usage.