The English language contains many words that are tricky to master.

Indeed is one such word. It’s usually used to add extra emphasis or to show agreement.

Read on to learn more about how to use indeed in a sentence, including examples from literature.

Definition of Indeed

Indeed is an adverb that’s usually used for extra force or emphasis. Common synonyms for indeed include certainly, surely, definitely, and in fact.

Tips for Using Indeed in a Sentence

There are three common ways to use indeed in a sentence.

The first way to use indeed is to agree with something that’s just been said.

For example, if your boss asks you:

• “Are you a hard worker?”

then you may reply:

• “I am indeed.”

In this case, indeed serves to confirm what your boss asked about.

Here are some other examples of how to use indeed to agree with something previously said:

• “Will you be free this weekend?” “Indeed I will.”
• “Isn’t this such a good book?” “It is indeed.”
• “The color blue has such a calming effect.” “Yes, indeed.”

The second way to use indeed is to emphasize the word very.

For example, you might say “John’s success was a very remarkable achievement indeed.” In this case, indeed emphasizes how remarkable you think John’s achievement was.

Here are some other examples of how to use indeed to emphasize very:

• Today was a very memorable day indeed.
• Your painting is indeed a very timeless masterpiece.
• I am very grateful indeed for your assistance with this matter.

Finally, you can also use indeed to introduce a second sentence or phrase that strengthens the previous sentence.

For example, you might say, “My friend Sarah is a remarkable person. Indeed, she might be one of my favorite human beings on the planet.” In this case, indeed supports your original claim by bridging it to an even stronger claim.

You can connect these two claims to create a compound sentence with an independent clause beginning with indeed, or you can make each one a complete sentence of its own.

Here are some more sentences showing how to use indeed to introduce a supporting claim:

• I am not a miserly person. Indeed, I donate a tenth of my salary to charity every year.
• She has always loved cats; indeed, she currently owns seven of them.
• I believe that everyone who loves reading fantasy novels, and indeed even those who don’t, should read The Lord of the Rings at least once.

Example Sentences with Indeed

The best way to learn grammar is by reading plenty of real-world examples. Here are some excellent sentences from English literature that include indeed.

“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men.”—Jane Austen, Persuasion

“Did she have a precursor? She did, indeed she did.”—Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita

“Give me a man or woman who has read a thousand books and you give me an interesting companion. Give me a man or woman who has read perhaps three and you give me a very dangerous enemy indeed.”—Anne Rice, The Witching Hour

“The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed.”—J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

“I’m antisocial, they say. I don’t mix. It’s so strange. I’m very social indeed. It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn’t it?”—Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

“You have needs—satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don’t hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more.”—Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

Do You Need Indeed?

More often than not, you can remove indeed from your work.

Indeed indicates agreement. Typically, your sentences will clearly indicate assent, so its presence is redundant.

• Original: This was indeed the first time they’d met.
• Rewrite: This was the first time they’d met.

However, sometimes the word indeed can add more style and voice to your writing. It’s ultimately up to you to decide when you want to use it, but use it sparingly.

Unnecessary words can clog up your writing and affect the readability. Run your writing through ProWritingAid’s grammar checker to find unnecessary words like indeed.

Conclusion: How to Use Indeed in a Sentence

There you have it—a complete guide to how to use indeed in a sentence. Here’s a quick recap of the three ways you can use indeed:

• To agree with something that’s just been said
• To emphasize the word very
• To introduce a new sentence or phrase that strengthens the previous one

If you’re not sure you need to include indeed in a sentence, you can always run your work through ProWritingAid, which will make sure every word you’re using is indeed necessary!