Here's how to use it properly:
Structure:
* List 1: Item 1, Item 2, Item 3
* respectively:
* List 2: Item A, Item B, Item C
Example Sentences:
* "The colors of the American flag are red, white, and blue, respectively." This means red corresponds to the top stripe, white to the middle stripe, and blue to the bottom stripe.
* "John and Mary went to the store to buy apples and oranges, respectively." This means John bought apples and Mary bought oranges.
* "The students scored 80, 90, and 75 on the test, respectively." This means the first student scored 80, the second student scored 90, and the third student scored 75.
Things to Remember:
* "Respectively" should be used when you have two or more lists with the same number of items.
* The items in the lists should be in the same order.
* "Respectively" is usually placed at the end of the sentence.
Common Errors:
* Using "respectively" when the items in the lists are not in the same order. For example: "The colors of the American flag are red, white, and blue, respectively." (Incorrect, because red is not necessarily the top stripe)
* Using "respectively" when there is only one list. For example: "The students scored 80, 90, and 75 on the test, respectively." (Incorrect, because there is only one list)
By following these guidelines, you can use the word "respectively" correctly and avoid any confusion.