Truly

Truly is one of the 117 mis-spellings listed as 'Common difficulties' in the section on 'Spelling' within 'Writing' in UEfAP.

It is spelled truly - with no '-e-'.

This is against the normal spelling rule - that one should add the adverb-forming suffix -ly to the complete adjective from which the adverb is to be formed. In this case, the '-e' is dropped from the end of the adjective true.

• The commonest use of truly may be as the conclusion to a formal letter written to someone whose name the writer does not know, using one of the formal openings such as 'Dear Sir', 'Dear Sirs', 'Dear Madam', etc.