Which one is correct: "get home safely" or "get home safe"? — Julie, United States
Answer
Most students learn that "safely" is an adverb and "safe" is an adjective.
Safe as an adjective:
This is a safe car.
He felt safe in his home after installing an alarm.
Your secret is safe with me.
They didn't think the old bridge was safe to walk across.
Safely as an adverb:
He safely removed the splinter from the child's finger.
They arrived safely home after their flight.
She always drives safely.
But some adverbs are used without the -ly, and in informal speech or writing, that's fine. When an adverb has the same form as the related adjective it is called a flat adverb. In formal or academic writing, however, you should add -ly to these adverbs.
She showed them to their car and told them to drive safe/safely.
He called his kids to make sure they got home safe/safely after school.
