Equally means to the same degree, in the same way, or in equal shares. It says that two things are just as important, difficult or useful as each other (equally important), or that something is divided into equal parts (share equally). At the start of a sentence, Equally works as a linker meaning “in the same way” or “by the same token”.
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A and B are + equally + adjective; verb + equally (share/divide equally); Sentence. Equally, + point of the same weight
- We split the restaurant bill equally, so everyone paid twenty pounds.
- The two candidates were equally experienced, so the interview decided everything.
- Teachers should praise students for their success. Equally, they should help them learn from mistakes.
What changed
First versionFor me, my family is equally important as my career.
RevisionFor me, my family is as important as my career.
It's tempting to blend two comparisons, equally important and as important as, into equally important as. But in English this comparison is built with one pair: as important as. Equally is used when both things are already named together, and then no as follows the adjective: My family and my career are equally important.
At the start of a sentence, Equally adds a point of the same weight as the previous one: Teachers should praise success. Equally, they should help students learn from mistakes. And don't confuse equally with equal, the adjective: equal rights, equal pay, but equally important.
Your turn
Speaking and writing are ___ important in the exam, so spend the same time preparing for both.
Show the answer
equally — Both things are named before the gap, speaking and writing, and you need to say they matter to the same degree. That's equally. As important needs the second part of the comparison: Speaking is as important as writing. There isn't one here.
Write about two things that are equally important to you when you choose a job or a place to study. Name both and briefly explain why each one matters.
When I choose a job, good pay and a short commute are equally important to me: the pay lets me save, and the short commute leaves me time for my family.
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