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Mon 10 Nov, 2014 02:54 am
My English tutor let me practice some patterns such as
"strictly speaking, precisely speaking' and so on.
I was to make a sentence using that pattern and mine was
"Frankly speaking, I don't like you."
And I was told that native speakers actually do not really use that a lot and
some might feel that's sort of a broken English.
Would native speakers not recommend using 'frankly speaking'
as it may sound somewhat unnatural or old-fashioned?
If so, what altertatives might be good enoough to use?
How about 'Honestly speaking'?
@SMickey,
The phrase 'honestly speaking' or simply just 'honestly' is just fine and more common.
@SMickey,
You used the expression correctly and no one would think it was "broken English".
I use it, I also use To be Frank. Apparently so much, that on a particular thread, one poster started calling me Frank.
@Ragman,
Would you get the urge to correct a foreigner who mentioned 'frankly speaking', saying 'Oh, we natives barely say 'frankly speaking' though it still makes sense. To be frankly is better recommended.' if the speaker asked you whether any of what he or she had said sounds unnatural?
@SMickey,
As a phrase its acceptable, as well. It is NOT 'broken English' at all.
@Ragman,
Thank you sir. I got it now.
@engineer,
Thanks. Now I'd feel free to use it.
@izzythepush,
Someone called you Frank? Why?
@SMickey,
"Frank" is an English name, so there is a joke that if someone says "to be Frank" you answer "your name isn't Frank" or "why do you want to be Frank", etc.
@SMickey,
American humor (play on words). This can take getting used to.
"Surely you can't be serious!"
"I am serious...and don't call me Shirley."
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