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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a thorough telephone

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a thorough telephone" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a telephone that is comprehensive in some way, but the expression lacks clarity and context. Example: "I need a thorough telephone to ensure all my calls are clear and detailed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Whereas the SPD-assessment was conducted online, as in our study on OCD, we also carried out a thorough telephone assessment of the diagnostic status and symptom severity in this study.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Each subject underwent a thorough screening, which included a telephone interview and a medical evaluation.

Science

Plosone

There is certainly nothing wrong with taking a thorough message (time, date, name and telephone number) on a carbon message pad if that is what you or your executive prefers.

One Republican official said that before Dr. Cooley's telephone call Mr. Cheney had undergone a thorough physical examination last week.

News & Media

The New York Times

After a thorough literature review, 13 structured expert interviews were carried out in 2010 via telephone with actors actively engaged in the forest sector of the OTC market.

Unless there are immediate concerns regarding the caller's safety they will receive a phone call back from a PANDA volunteer or telephone counsellor, depending on the caller's needs, to enable a thorough initial call to be undertaken.

Before contacting the companies from the database, we made a thorough pretest study by contacting 15 experts from the field of agri-food business and conducting telephone conversations with them.

"We have heard this process has begun, but we will wait for the appropriate bodies to make a thorough and formal investigation before we make any further comments," Lance Berg, a spokesman for Barclays Global, said in a telephone interview.

"A thorough search.

News & Media

The Economist

A thorough overhaul is needed.

News & Media

The Economist

He promised a thorough investigation.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to describe a thorough investigation, assessment, or screening, specify the object of the thoroughness. For example, "a thorough telephone screening" is clearer than "a thorough telephone".

Common error

Avoid using "thorough" to directly describe a telephone. Instead, use it to describe the action or process associated with the telephone, such as "a thorough telephone interview" or "a thorough screening via telephone".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a thorough telephone" is grammatically unconventional. "Thorough" typically functions as an adjective modifying a noun, but in standard usage, it doesn't directly describe a telephone. As Ludwig AI explains, it's more appropriate to modify the action or process involving the telephone, such as "a thorough telephone interview".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a thorough telephone" is an uncommon and grammatically questionable phrase. It is more appropriate to use "thorough" to describe an action performed using a telephone, such as "a thorough telephone interview" or "a thorough telephone screening". As Ludwig AI indicates, the expression lacks clarity. When referring to telephone communications, consider alternatives like "a comprehensive phone call" or "a detailed telephone conversation" for better clarity and correctness. Given its infrequent and often incorrect usage, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing and speech.

FAQs

How can I use the word "thorough" with "telephone" correctly?

Use "thorough" to describe an action or process, not the telephone itself. For example, you can say "a thorough telephone interview" or "a thorough assessment via telephone".

What phrases can I use instead of "a thorough telephone"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a comprehensive phone call", "a detailed telephone conversation", or "an in-depth telephone discussion".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a thorough telephone"?

No, the phrase "a thorough telephone" is not grammatically standard. "Thorough" needs to describe an action or assessment, not the instrument itself. Refer to Ludwig AI to check for better alternatives.

What does "thorough" typically modify when discussing telephone communications?

"Thorough" typically modifies nouns like "investigation", "assessment", "interview", or "screening" when discussing telephone communications. Ludwig can help find appropriate examples.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: