
August 12, 2025
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Learn moreEven though Latin is technically a dead language, some Latin phrases are still used in English today. The phrase “ipso facto” is often used by lawyers but also is used in the context of philosophy or science.1
If you want to impress others with your writing, incorporating Latin phrases into your work like “mea culpa,” “et cetera,” and “ad nauseam” is a great place to start. Some other common Latin phrases that are used in English include:
Improve your spelling and grammar anywhere you write.
Learn more“Ipso facto” is another Latin phrase you may have come across in the past, but before you start using it, it’s important to learn what it means first. Fortunately, this phrase is easy to master, and you don’t need to be a lawyer to use it.
The phrase ipso facto has a long history—its first known use was in 1548.2 In Latin, “ipso facto” (pronounced IP-sow-FAK-tow) means “by that very fact” or “by the fact itself.” Considering “facto” sounds like the word “fact,” this probably isn’t too surprising. You may also see the phrase used to describe an inevitable result.3
In simple terms, use the phrase when one fact or statement means that another fact or statement is true.
If you’re still confused about what “ipso facto” means, reading it in a sentence can help you understand the phrase. When you start using it or reading it in sentences, it may feel a little awkward at first. Here are some examples of “ipso facto” used in a sentence:
To sound smart in your writing, you’ll want to make sure you are using “ipso facto” correctly. If you aren’t certain you’re using the phrase correctly, try to replace the phrase with “by that fact,” “by that fact alone,” “hence,” “therefore,” “inevitably,” or “unavoidably.” Look at this sentence:
By receiving his driver’s license, he ipso facto passed the road test.
If you are unsure if the sentence was used correctly, you can check it by making the sentence instead:
By receiving his driver’s license, he by that fact alone passed the road test.
The sentence still makes sense when you replace “ipso facto” with “by that fact alone,” indicating that the Latin phrase was used correctly.
Expanding your vocabulary with Latin phrases is an easy and excellent way to spice up your writing. For more tips on how to enhance your writing, check out these writing essentials.
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