a total success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a total success" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that has been completely successful or achieved complete success. Example: The team's hard work and dedication led to a total success in their project, exceeding all expectations.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Twain tried a new recipe that's become her latest specialty -- the banana spice cake was "a total success" and "totally rocks".

Huffington Post

Yet it is not a total success.

Independent

Yoga wasn't a total success, though.

Harvard University

The adaptive cruise control, by contrast, was a total success.

The New York Times

It's a disaster movie that isn't a total success.

The Guardian - Film

In those terms it was a total success".

The Guardian

"Uncle Vanya" wasn't a total success at first.

The New Yorker

The operation was not a total success, however.

The Guardian

The operation itself has been a total success.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Looking back, she views the project as a total success.

The New York Times

Yet the program has not been a total success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a total success" when you want to emphasize that something has achieved all its goals and has no shortcomings.

Common error

While "a total success" is appropriate in many contexts, avoid using it repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "complete triumph" or "resounding achievement" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a total success" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an object. It describes something that has achieved complete success, indicating a positive outcome. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in diverse contexts, from describing recipes to surgical operations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a total success" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe something that has been completely successful. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its function is to positively evaluate an outcome across various contexts, from news and media to academia and science. While versatile, varying your language with alternatives like "complete triumph" or "resounding achievement" can enhance your writing. Remember to use the phrase when the outcome has completely achieved all goals without shortcomings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a complete triumph

Replaces "success" with "triumph", emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the achievement.

an unqualified success

Adds the adjective "unqualified" to highlight that the success is complete and without reservation.

a resounding achievement

Shifts from "success" to "achievement", and uses "resounding" to convey a powerful and widely recognized accomplishment.

an utter victory

Employs "utter victory" to indicate a complete and decisive win.

a remarkable accomplishment

Focuses on the impressiveness of the accomplishment, using "remarkable" to elevate the sense of achievement.

a stunning success

Uses "stunning" to describe the success, indicating that it was surprisingly impressive.

a phenomenal outcome

Switches from "success" to "outcome", emphasizing the exceptional result.

a stellar performance

Focuses on the performance aspect, using "stellar" to signify outstanding quality.

a smashing hit

Uses a more informal expression, "smashing hit", to convey a very positive and popular success.

a runaway success

Implies that the success was swift and exceeded expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "a total success" in a sentence?

You can use "a total success" to describe something that has completely achieved its goals, such as: "The project was "a total success", exceeding all expectations".

What's a more formal way to say "a total success"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "a complete triumph" or "an unqualified success", depending on the specific context.

Are there any situations where "a total success" might not be appropriate?

While generally suitable, "a total success" might be too emphatic if there were minor issues or if the achievement was expected. In such cases, consider using milder terms like "generally successful".

What are some informal alternatives to "a total success"?

Informal alternatives include "a smashing hit" or "a runaway success", which convey a sense of excitement and popularity but might not be suitable for formal writing.