Difference Between Respectfully and Respectively

The Difference Between “Respectfully” and “Respectively”

Word History

The words “respectfully” and “respectively” may sound similar, but they have different meanings. “Respectfully” comes from the word “respect,” which means showing honor or admiration. “Respectively” comes from the word “respective,” which means relating to each person or thing in a group.

How to Use Them

– Respectfully: You use “respectfully” when you want to show kindness, honor, or politeness.
– Respectively: You use “respectively” to connect things with their right order or pairings.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of “respectfully” as being full of respect. It shows honor. Think of “respectively” as matching each person or thing with its pair, like a list.

Example Sentences

“Respectfully” Examples

1. The student spoke respectfully to the teacher.
2. She respectfully disagreed with his idea.
3. The letter to the company was written respectfully.
4. The child listened respectfully to the elder.
5. He bowed his head respectfully in front of the king.

“Respectively” Examples

1. Tom and Jerry played football and basketball, respectively.
2. The dog and the cat were named Max and Bella, respectively.
3. Apples and bananas cost $2 and $1, respectively.
4. Sarah and Jane are 10 and 12 years old, respectively.
5. The countries were visited in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Summary of Usage

Use “respectfully” when you want to be polite or show admiration. Use “respectively” when you are making pairs in a list or showing things in order.