If you’re choosing between publicly and publically, here’s the reality: most modern writing expects publicly. The extra a in publically shows up sometimes, but it’s far less common, and many readers will treat it as a misspelling.
Meaning and Standard Spelling
Publicly is the default spelling in modern English for the adverb meaning openly or in a way accessible to the public. Major dictionaries list publicly as the main form and note publically as less common; Merriam-Webster also gives the word’s formation as public + -ly and records early usage history. ✅Source
- ✅ Correct Form
- publicly (standard)
- ❌ Commonly Flagged
- publically (rare variant; often treated as an error)
- Part of Speech
- Adverb (modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs)
In everyday writing, publicly is the form that feels natural and looks clean on the page. Publically can read like a typo because it breaks the expected -ly pattern that readers recognize instantly.
Why Publically Exists
Publically isn’t a random invention. Some dictionaries record it as a variant spelling of publicly, which explains why it occasionally appears in edited text, older material, or personal writing. Collins explicitly labels publically as a variant of publicly. ✅Source
Sound Spelling Editing
In speech, publicly and publically are typically indistinguishable, so the confusion is mostly a spelling issue. On the page, publicly stays the safe, expected choice for general audiences.
You’ll also see people add the extra a by analogy with adverbs that look like -ically (for example, words ending in -ical often become -ically). That pattern is common enough that it can pull spelling in the wrong direction, even when the base word is simply public.
What Publicly Actually Means
Publicly is an adverb with a few closely related senses. Britannica groups the core idea around doing something openly, making something available to anyone, or describing things supported by a government. ✅Source
- Openly or in a way meant to be seen: “They spoke publicly about the change.”
- Available to anyone or accessible: “The report is publicly available.”
- Government-supported or provided through public funding: “publicly funded research.”
Real-World Sentence Shapes
English lets publicly sit in more than one place without changing the meaning much. Both patterns are standard, and both are common in professional writing:
- Before the main verb: “They publicly announced the update.”
- After the verb: “They announced the update publicly.”
Where Publicly Shows Up
You’ll run into publicly in places where writers need a clear contrast between what’s open and what’s private. It’s common in business, academia, and everyday communication.
Typical Contexts
- Announcements and statements: publicly acknowledge, publicly announce, publicly confirm
- Access and availability: publicly available, publicly accessible, publicly posted
- Markets and ownership: publicly traded, publicly owned, publicly listed
- Research and funding: publicly funded, publicly supported
When the idea is “in front of others,” English sometimes uses the phrase in public instead of publicly. The meaning can overlap, but publicly often sounds more formal and more report-like.
Spelling Breakdown: Public + -ly
The base word public carries ideas like open, accessible, and shared. Merriam-Webster’s entry outlines these core senses, which is exactly why publicly works so smoothly as the adverb form. ✅Source
public (adjective) → publicly (adverb)
That -ly ending is a classic adverb signal in English. It’s why publicly looks familiar, and why publically looks unexpected to many readers.
One more detail that matters: publicly is built on public, not on an -ical adjective (like “practical”). So the spelling that matches the base word is public + ly, giving publicly.
Publicly in Common Collocations
Publicly often acts like a precision tool: it tells you the action is open, visible, or not private. Many of the most common pairings are almost “fixed” in professional English.
- publicly available (accessible to anyone)
- publicly traded (shares can be bought and sold by the public)
- publicly owned (owned through public shareholding, or by a public body depending on context)
- publicly funded (supported by public funding)
- publicly stated / publicly announced (said openly)
As an adverb, publicly can modify a verb (“announced”), an adjective (“available”), or even a past participle used like an adjective (“funded”). A community college writing handout sums up adverbs as words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and it also shows how adverb placement can shift without breaking grammar. ✅Source
Side-By-Side Comparison
This isn’t a “two different meanings” situation. It’s mostly about standard usage, reader expectations, and how “clean” the spelling looks in modern editing.
| Form | What Most Readers Expect | How Editors Usually Treat It | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ publicly | Standard in modern English | Preferred spelling in general writing | “The dataset is publicly available.” |
| ❌ publically | Uncommon; often read as a typo | Often corrected to publicly | “The dataset is publically available.” |
A Small Note on “Correct”
If you’re aiming for clear, modern English, publicly is the spelling that avoids distraction. Publically may exist as a recorded variant, but it often creates a speed bump for readers who are scanning quickly.
FAQ
FAQ
Is “publically” always wrong?
Not exactly. Publically is sometimes listed as a less common variant, so you may see it in real writing. Still, publicly is the standard, and it’s the spelling that avoids reader doubt.
Do “publicly” and “in public” mean the same thing?
They can overlap, but they’re not identical twins. Publicly often sounds more formal and is common in reports or professional contexts. In public is a phrase that can feel more everyday.
Why is “publicly traded” so common?
Publicly traded is a set phrase in business English that signals shares are available to the general public. In that phrase, publicly is doing real work: it points to open access rather than private ownership.
Where does “publicly” usually go in a sentence?
Common placements are before the main verb (“They publicly confirmed it”) or after the verb (“They confirmed it publicly”). Both are typically grammatical; the choice is often about rhythm and emphasis.
Can “publicly” modify adjectives?
Yes. You’ll often see publicly paired with adjectives or adjective-like forms: publicly available, publicly accessible, publicly visible. In each case, publicly adds the access/open-ness idea right up front.