of course

/. './ adverb

1 certainly: Of course I'll give you your money back. | “Were you glad to leave?” “Of course not!” | Of course you must make a profit, but not if it involves exploiting people.

2 used when you think that someone should know something, or should not be surprised by something: You should of course keep copies of all correspondence. | Well, she won, of course..

USAGE NOTE: OF COURSE POLITENESS You use of course as a polite and friendly way of agreeing to something or agreeing to do something someone has asked you: “May I borrow this book?” “Of course you can.” | “Do you think I was wrong?” “Of course not.” It is not usually polite to use of course or of course not as a reply to a request for information. If for example someone asked you: “Is this the way to the station?" and you replied “Of course (it is)", this would sound as if you think the answer to the question is very clear and you think the person is stupid to need to ask you. STYLE Except when you are answering questions, of course is not usually used at the beginning of a sentence. Instead of saying: We play a lot of tennis and polo. Of course we have our own swimming pool, you would say: We also have our own swimming pool, of course or ...and of course we have our own swimming pool.