Indeed / Even: focusing on unexpected or extraordinary details

On this page:
Indeed
In Fact
Even/Even though
Even if/Even though
Common Mistakes
Punctuation
Practice 1
Practice 2
Practice 3

Indeed / Even

Focusing on unexpected or extraordinary details

indeed – more so, interjection
in fact – detail as proof
even – unexpected / exceptional
even though– unexpected outcome
even if– unexpected or exceptional condition

Focusing on an Exceptional Quality or Characteristic

INDEED	EVEN
Indeed is often used to emphasize very with an adjective or adverb [very–adj–indeed] [very–adv–indeed]. Indeed can also be used after be or an auxiliary verb in order to suggest confirmation or emphatic agreement.	Even is a focusing adverb that points to another part of the sentence, usually the part after the verb. Even expresses surprise at an unexpected or exceptional occurence. It is commonly placed in mid-position (after the auxiliary and before the verb) but may also be placed elsewhere.
The chef made a gingerbread house. It was very fancy indeed. (very…indeed)	The chef made a gingerbread house. It was even fancier than the one before. (more than I expected)
People were indeed interested in how he made it. (emphasis on verb)	People were even interested in how he made it. focusing adverb
People were delighted, indeed amazed, to see his work. (a restatement)	People were delighted, even amazed when they saw it. (unexpectedly
He's amazing. He is indeed.

Indeed – degree modifier (CaGEL 584)
Even – additive focusing modifier (CaGEL 592)
See Adv for Focus.

Focusing on a Fact or Exceptional Detail

IN FACT	EVEN
In fact introduces a detail, often to support an argument or a statement (assertion). It is called a stance adverbial because it expresses the speakers view of reality about the situation. See Adv for Opinion.	Even indicates that something is exceptional, a surprising extreme.
He's a master at building gingerbread houses. In fact, he's a teacher at the Culinary Academy.	He's a master at building gingerbread houses. He even teaches his art at the Culinary Academy.
He made it fairly quickly. In fact, he did most of it in just one day.	He makes them in one day. He even works late to get them done. (It's exceptional!)
He loves to work by himself. In fact, he has been doing his own marketing.	He loves to work by himself. He has even been doing his own marketing. (It's exceptional!)
He added a chimney! He did, indeed.	He added several details – even a chimney.

Common Mistake

ERROR	FIX
*He even works though he is retired.	He works even though he is retired. (emphasis - unexpected outcome) He is still working (even) though he is retired. (emphasis - ongoing, extended activity) He works, even into his retirement years. (emphasis - exceptional occurrence)

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Related page: Adv for Focus (also, only, even, just, really, neither, etc.)
Pop-Q "Even"

Commonly Confused

Even / Even Though / Even If

Emphasis vs. Unexpected Outcome

EVEN	EVEN THOUGH
Use even to draw attention to a surprising or exceptional detail. See Adverbs for Focus	Even though to introduce an unexpected or surpising (contrary) outcome. See Because/ Though
He cooks, even bakes, for all his friends.	He cooks and bakes even though he doesn't have much time.
He has his own bakery; he even does private catering.	He does a lot of catering even though he doesn't advertise at all.
His creations are beautiful and taste even better. (surprising ly)	His chocolate cake is amazing even though it has no butter in it.

No Condition vs Unexpected Outcome

EVEN If	EVEN THOUGH
Even if — unconditional ; in any case See Even if/Whether or not.	Even though to introduce an unexpected or surpising (contrary) outcome. See Because/ Though
I'll help you even if I don't have much time. (I may or may not have time. In either condition, I'll help.)	I'll help you even though I don't have much time. (succeeding in the face of difficulty) (I don't have much time, still I will help.)
I don't like to walk to work even if it is pleasant outside. (It may or may not be pleasant. In either condition, I don't walk.)	I don't like to walk to work even though it is pleasant outside. (It's pleasant outside, still I don't like walking to work.)
Even if he doesn't say so, he loves you. (He may or may not say so. In either condition, he loves you.)	Even though he doesn't say so, he loves you. (He doesn't say so, still he loves you.)

even — same amount, fair, just
"Even Steven" — having nothing due or owed on either side, having an equal score
getting even — taking revenge or seeking fairness
even numbers — expression used for numbers 2, 4, 6, 8…

Punctuation

Commas and Sentence Position

Commas

INITIAL-POSITION ADVERB	MID-POSITION ADVERB
A comma is used to mark a change from standard word order.	No comma is used for standard word order.
We paid $5 per gallon. Indeed, we paid too much! We paid $5 per gallon. In fact, we paid too much. *We paid $5 per gallon. Even he paid too much.	We did indeed pay too much. We did in fact pay too much. *We did even pay too much. Even we paid too much./ We even paid too much.
*ungrammatical examples	Gas is indeed more expensive than before. Gas is in fact more expensive than before. Gas is even more expensive than before.
Even goes at the beginning of a clause when it refers just to the subject; and it can go just before other words and expressions that we want to emphasize.	Even in mid-sentence phrases, requires commas.
We paid five dollars per gallon! Even four dollars is unreasonable. He wouldn't stop at a gas station that sells gas for $5 dollars. Even I wouldn't.	Five dollars, even four, is too much to pay for a gallon of gas. We paid a lot, even more than usual.

Related page: Adv for Focus (also, only, even, just, really, neither, etc.)

Practice 1

Chef Giorgio

Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	COMPLETE SENTENCE WITH CONNECTOR	CHECK ANSWER
1.	Chef Giorgio loves Italian food. it is his favorite cuisine.
2.	He travels a lot. he has been to Italy many times.
3.	While he looks Italian, he is Mexican.
4.	He likes Italian food and culture so much, he changed his name from Jorge to Giorgio.
5.	it makes his restaurant, "Giorgio", more authentic .
6.	Chef Giorgio serves a delicious Osso Bucco. it's the best I've ever had.
7.	Chef Giorgio is willing to help guests select wines to go with his dishes.
8.	For holidays, Chef Giorgio likes to entertain his friends; he has many.
9.	He once entertained over two hundred people.
10	He did all the cooking himself.

Practice 2

Eating Right

Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence.
* Indicates an incorrect answer.

#	SENTENCE & FEEDBACK	OPTIONS
11.	We often eat the wrong kinds of food	even we know better . even though we know better.
12.	We often over-eat .	, even stuff ourselves with food. even though stuff ourselves with food.
13.	Often because of improper food-labeling, we don't	even know what we are eating. even though know what we are eating.
14.	certain foods aren't good for us, we eat them .	Even we know Even though we know
15.	We should eat a healthy diet	even if we are pressed for time. even we are pressed for time.

Practice 3

Peppers

Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	COMPLETE SENTENCE WITH PUNCTUATION	CHECK ANSWER
16.	Red bell peppers are very nutritious. In fact a pepper has more vitamin C than an orange.
17.	Red peppers in fact are originally Central American.
18.	Some peppers can be very hot and even burn the mouth.
19.	Habanera chiles are peppers that are truly hot. Indeed they can "curl your teeth".
20.	Peppers are even used in making exotic desserts.

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