Quickly vs. Soon — What's the Difference?

"Quickly" describes the manner in which an action is performed, emphasizing speed. For instance, if someone says, "She quickly finished her homework," it means the homework was completed in a short amount of time. On the other hand, "soon" relates to the timing of an event, indicating it will happen in the near future. When someone says, "He will arrive soon," it means his arrival is expected shortly, without specifying how fast the action will be.

"Quickly" can modify verbs to describe actions being done with rapidity. For example, "He ran quickly to catch the bus" highlights the speed of running. Conversely, "soon" is used to modify clauses or sentences to denote imminent events. For example, "The movie will start soon" indicates that the movie's start is imminent but doesn't imply how fast it will start.

When using "quickly," the focus is on the pace of the action, suggesting efficiency or urgency. For example, "Respond quickly to the email" implies a need for immediate action. In contrast, using "soon" conveys proximity in time rather than speed, such as "We will meet soon," which indicates the meeting is imminent but doesn't specify the meeting's duration.

"Quickly" is often associated with actions and processes, emphasizing how they are carried out, while "soon" is associated with timeframes, focusing on when events will occur. Understanding this distinction helps in choosing the appropriate term based on whether speed or timing is being highlighted.