a totally harmless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a totally harmless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that poses no danger or threat in a casual or informal context. Example: "The new product is a totally harmless alternative to traditional cleaning supplies."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Vinegar is a totally harmless substance that lightly cleans vinyl floors to keep them looking fresh.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This is what liking a thing, even a popular and totally harmless thing like "Magic Carpet Ride" does.

Vice

Squirting is a natural body function – totally harmless and enjoyed by endless guys.

Vice

Fisting was one of them, as was female ejaculation, face-sitting, urination and a bunch of other totally harmless things that the government really shouldn't be getting involved in.

Vice

An induced abortion is not totally harmless from a psychological aspect [ 3] and may lead to medical complications, albeit few, and may interfere with future planned parenthood [ 3].

BMC Public Health

Throughout, we kept a nervous eye on the black-tip reef shark that circled us — totally harmless, we knew, but somehow still scary (in a pleasant way).

The New York Times - Travel

Three American hikers detained in Iran are totally harmless travelers who carefully planned a trip in Iraq but apparently accidentally ended up crossing the border, their relatives said Thursday.

The New York Times

You must seem both totally harmless and able, if necessary, to push a knife through any tender gut".

The New Yorker

In light of the highly inappropriate nature of Mr. Trump's remarks, we have decided to relaunch our classic chewing gum under the name Finger-Gun Gum, a playful, nonviolent allusion that we hope will convey the totally harmless spirit of our popular chewing gum.

The New Yorker

Instead, the Kinect sits below your TV, blasting a massive number of itty-bitty invisible (and yes, Mom, totally harmless) infrared dots into your living room.

TechCrunch

"You get a lot of large fish coming through – there's a big nurse shark about eight foot long that lives there – beautiful, totally harmless".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "a totally harmless", ensure the context supports this claim. Provide evidence or examples to reassure your audience of its safety or lack of threat.

Common error

Avoid using "a totally harmless" when there's even a slight potential for negative consequences. Overstating safety can erode trust if the reality doesn't match the claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a totally harmless" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun. It serves to describe something as posing no danger or threat. Ludwig provides examples where it characterizes substances like vinegar or actions performed by people.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a totally harmless" is an adjective phrase used to emphasize the complete lack of danger or threat associated with something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While relatively infrequent, it appears in diverse contexts like news, wikis, and scientific articles. When using this phrase, ensure that your claim is accurate and supported by evidence, avoiding overstatements that could undermine your credibility. Alternatives like "completely safe" or "entirely innocuous" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely innocuous

Emphasizes the lack of any harmful or offensive qualities.

entirely safe

Highlights the absence of danger or risk.

perfectly safe

Stresses the absolute safety of something.

utterly benign

Implies complete gentleness and lack of harmful intent.

absolutely harmless

Emphasizes the complete absence of any harmful effects.

wholly innocuous

Similar to 'completely innocuous' but may sound slightly more formal.

quite harmless

Indicates a relatively low degree of potential harm.

generally harmless

Suggests that something is usually safe, although there might be rare exceptions.

largely harmless

Implies that most aspects of something are safe, but there could be minor risks.

relatively harmless

Suggests a lower level of potential danger compared to other things.

FAQs

How can I use "a totally harmless" in a sentence?

Use "a totally harmless" to describe something that poses no threat or danger. For example: "Vinegar is "a totally harmless" substance that lightly cleans vinyl floors."

What are some alternatives to saying "a totally harmless"?

You can use alternatives like "completely safe", "entirely innocuous", or "perfectly safe" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "a totally harmless"?

While "harmless" already implies a lack of harm, adding "totally" emphasizes the complete absence of any potential danger. Whether it's redundant depends on the desired level of emphasis in your writing.

Can "a totally harmless" be used sarcastically?

Yes, like many phrases, "a totally harmless" can be used sarcastically to imply the opposite of its literal meaning. The tone and context would need to make this intention clear.