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The phrase "duly noted" is very common, but I have never used the word "duly" outside of this context.

What is the meaning of the word "duly", and what does it add to the word "noted"?

I would also like to know if there are other uses of "duly", and if it can be used on its own.

Daniel
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Scott Rippey
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2 Answers2

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Duly is the adverbial form of the adjective due. It means either properly or punctually, and can be replaced by either word felicitously. So duly noted means correctly or appropriately recorded.

Duly noted encompasses only a tiny fraction of the usages of the word: this Ngram should be sufficient to illustrate:

Duly is as independent as it could wish.

Community
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Daniel
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    Well that makes good sense! "Duly = due + ly". Thanks! Now I can stop making up answers to my wife. – Scott Rippey Nov 06 '11 at 00:48
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    "So duly noted means that the note fit the circumstances"? I would say that by far the most common context is as a "mock-formal" way of saying, "Yeah, I got that, thanks", often with a sarcastic or vaguely annoyed tone. As pointed out in this discussion. – FumbleFingers Nov 06 '11 at 03:05
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    "Duly noted encompasses only a tiny fraction of the usages of the word" This surprises me, as I can't recall ever hearing it used any other way. To be honest, I took it as a set phrase. – Karl Knechtel Nov 06 '11 at 06:52
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    @KarlKnechtel The ceremony duly began at midnight. I used the tent and was duly impressed. – apaderno Nov 06 '11 at 11:27
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    @kiamlaluno Thanks for jogging my memory :) It still doesn't exactly seem like those usages are the overwhelming majority, though. – Karl Knechtel Nov 06 '11 at 11:49
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user39111
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