Difference Between Hopefully and I hope so

May 2022 · 5 minute read

Hope is something that an individual has within himself for something to happen. It can involve anything related to any situation or circumstance. It is something a person wishes for. It may depend on the individual or fate. People use the term Hopefully, and I hope so to convey their expression.

Hopefully vs I hope so

The main difference between Hopefully and I hope so is that Hopefully is an adverb, and I hope so is an idiom. The one common thing is that both these terms are used to express a sense of hope. However, the two are different from one another in various aspects.

Hopefully is a term that is an adverb used in a hopeful manner. Hopefully often is used when something is expected in a rather general way. Whenever a person wishes for something which is left on another person or circumstance, the term hopefully is used. Example: Hopefully, he is not late.

I hope so is an idiom that describes the expression of something a person wants to happen or is expecting to happen. I hope so is used for something in a specific way. Here the outcome is rather personal and dependent on the individual more than fate. Example: “Will you get it?”- “I hope so.”

Comparison Table Between Hopefully and I hope so

Parameters of ComparisonHopefully I hope so
MeaningHopefully is an adverb used in a hopeful manner. Hope is something a person wants to happen or is expecting to happen.
GrammarIt is an adverb.It is an idiom.
ExpectationIt is used when something is expected in a rather general way.It is used when something is expected in a specific way.
RelationIt is used when things are somewhat left on another person, fate, or circumstances.It is used when things are a desire of the individual and somewhat depends on them too. 
ExampleHopefully, the bus is on time.Do you think he will recover? “I hope so!”

What is Hopefully?

The term hopefully is an adverb that is often used at the beginning of a sentence. This is used for expressing what an individual would want to happen. It is used in a hopeful way. During the 1960s, there was a sudden uprise in the use of the word hopefully. The word had been fairly used since the 1930s. However, it received a surge of criticism in the 1960s. The sense of hopefully used as “it is hoped” is standard and popularly used.

What is I hope so? 

I hope so is used for expressing something which a person really desires or wishes for. And in many cases, it depends more on him than fate or other circumstances. It is used when a person wants something to turn out to be the way he/ she wants. It is also used to express when someone wants a statement to be true. Following are a few examples of using I hope so in a sentence:

Main Differences Between Hopefully and I hope so

  • Hopefully is an adverb used in a hopeful manner. “I hope so” is something a person wants to happen or is expecting to happen.
  • Hopefully is an adverb. “I hope so” is an idiom.
  • Hopefully is used when something is expected in a rather general way. “I hope so” is used when something is expected in a specific way.
  • Hopefully is used when things are somewhat left on another person, fate, or circumstances. “I hope so” is used when things are a desire of the individual and somewhat depend on him/ her too. 
  • Explanation with examples: 
  • Conclusion 

    The two terms, Hopefully, and I hope so, are used for delivering a sense of hope. It is used to express the desire or wish of a person. A hope for something to happen according to their wish or a situation to turn out the way they want it to be. And it is in the human nature of a person to wish, have a desire, have hope. It cannot be completely ruled out. Even though the two terms are used for the same reason. Their meaning and usage have a difference. Which makes them distinctive.

    References

  • https://muse.jhu.edu/article/448886/summary
  • https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/eurosla.2.11lio
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