I totally forget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I totally forget" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to express one's forgetfulness or to admit that something has been forgotten. For example: "I totally forget that we had agreed to meet at the coffee shop this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

We have a lot of fun together, and when I'm with them I totally forget about golf".

The New York Times - Sports

"To express what I feel before nature," he wrote to Gustave Geffroy, the art critic, "I totally forget the most elemental rules of painting, if they exist, every time".

The Guardian

(You and I? Totally forget).

TechCrunch

I totally forget it," he told VICE.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I totally forgot.

The Guardian - Film

"I totally forgot about this year".

The New York Times - Sports

I totally forgot they were there.

University of California, Berkeley

"I totally forgot about her," he said.

The New York Times

We had piano, I totally forgot".

The New Yorker

(5) I did … yeah, I totally forgot about that.

The Guardian - Film

I totally forgot I even had an Instagram account until February when the  play ended".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I totally forget" to express a genuine lapse in memory or a complete lack of awareness about something. It's best suited for informal conversations or writing.

Common error

Avoid using "I totally forget" in professional emails or formal reports. Opt for more formal alternatives like "I failed to recall" or "I did not remember" in these situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I totally forget" functions as a declarative statement expressing the speaker's complete lack of recall about something. Ludwig's examples show its usage in admitting forgetfulness in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I totally forget" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a complete lack of recall. As noted by Ludwig AI, its usage is typically informal and best suited for casual conversations or informal writing. While the phrase appears in various contexts, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives in professional or academic settings. When aiming for clarity and precision, understanding the nuances and variations in meaning offered by related phrases can enhance your communication. With that in mind, it's a good option to prevent errors by overusing "I totally forget" in contexts where a more formal register is recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I clean forgot

An emphatic way of saying one forgot something.

I completely blanked

Implies a sudden inability to recall something; emphasizes the mental block.

It slipped my mind

Suggests a casual forgetting, often of something minor or easily overlooked.

I had a memory lapse

Focuses on the temporary failure of memory, potentially implying a medical or psychological cause.

I didn't remember at all

Emphasizes the total absence of recall.

I lost track of

Indicates forgetting something due to a distraction or change in routine.

I failed to recall

A more formal way to express forgetting, suitable for professional contexts.

I overlooked it entirely

Emphasizes the act of missing or disregarding something completely.

I was oblivious to

Highlights a lack of awareness rather than a simple forgetting.

It escaped my notice

Indicates that something was not observed or remembered, suggesting a lack of prominence.

FAQs

What does "I totally forget" mean?

The phrase "I totally forget" is an informal way of saying that you have completely forgotten something. It implies a strong degree of forgetfulness.

What can I say instead of "I totally forget"?

You can use alternatives like "I completely blanked", "it slipped my mind", or "I didn't remember at all" depending on the context.

Is "I totally forgot" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I totally forgot" is grammatically correct. "Forget" is the base form of the verb, while "forgot" is the past tense. The past tense is used when describing something you previously failed to remember.

Is it okay to use "I totally forget" in business emails?

While understandable, "I totally forget" might be too informal for most business communications. Consider more formal options like "I apologize, I failed to recall" or "It seems I overlooked that".