a totally opposite

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a totally opposite" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct form would be "totally opposite" or "a complete opposite." Example: "Their opinions on the matter are totally opposite."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"It was a totally opposite story in the second half".

The New York Times - Sports

This, he said, represented a "totally opposite tendency from Uniqlo and Muji's no-character, functional design philosophy".

The New Yorker

"We have a totally opposite situation from the past, when the Communist Party of Vietnam was taking land from the landlord and distributing it to the farmer," he said.

The New York Times

Because I believed rightly or wrongly that we had one last chance to do that, to really turn it around in a totally opposite direction from the direction it was going in.

The New York Times

Judge Kennedy took a totally opposite tack from the one taken at Fort Hood, Tex., where a member of Lieutenant Galley's platoon, Sgt. David Mitchell was facing court‐martial for assault with intent to kill 30 Vietnamese in the same action.

The New York Times

In a post-campaign interview, the Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio put it this way: "When you really drill down on this election, if you change the vote in five counties, four in Florida, one in Michigan, we'd be having a totally opposite conversation right now".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

I went to St Paul's Girls School and to Oxford and I feel I need to do well as a woman, and yet there is this reality-celebrity phenomenon where people get rich quickly, which is sending out a strange, totally opposite message.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"They send a signal that's totally opposite the fiction that the Trump administration is trying to convey".

Vice

It's a ridiculous business plan and totally opposite what successful companies are doing.

TechCrunch

"If you know him as a person then it's totally opposite to what has happened," he said.

BBC

Meaning explains everything, since "It's bedtime" and seeing a rattlesnake of course hold totally opposite meanings.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatical precision, replace "a totally opposite" with "a complete opposite" or simply "totally opposite". This ensures correctness while retaining the intended emphasis.

Common error

Don't assume that "opposite" always requires the indefinite article "a". Using "totally opposite" without the article is often grammatically sound and more concise, especially in descriptive contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as an adjectival modifier, intending to describe something as being completely different or contrary to something else. However, the inclusion of the article "a" before "totally" makes it grammatically questionable, as highlighted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a totally opposite" appears in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct forms are "totally opposite" or "a complete opposite". Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, its communicative purpose is to emphasize a strong contrast. For polished writing, opting for grammatically sound alternatives like "a complete opposite" or "totally opposite" is advisable. Remember to avoid the common mistake of using the indefinite article "a" unnecessarily before "totally opposite" for grammatical precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a complete opposite

Replaces 'totally' with 'complete', offering a grammatically sound alternative with nearly identical meaning.

a stark contrast

Shifts from describing something as the 'opposite' to highlighting the 'contrast', emphasizing the difference between two things.

a complete reversal

Focuses on the act of reversing, suggesting a change to something entirely different from what it was.

an inverse situation

Uses 'inverse' to denote an opposite relationship or arrangement, suitable for more formal contexts.

a contrary scenario

Replaces 'opposite' with 'contrary', suggesting a conflicting or opposing situation.

a diametrically opposed view

Emphasizes the opposing nature of viewpoints or opinions, indicating a fundamental disagreement.

a polar opposite

Uses 'polar' to intensify the sense of opposition, suggesting extremes.

a fundamentally different approach

Focuses on the difference in approach or method, highlighting a divergence in strategies.

an antithetical concept

Emphasizes that the concept is the direct opposite or negation of something else.

an entirely different matter

Indicates that the subject under discussion is completely unrelated or distinct from the previous one.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "a totally opposite"?

According to standard English grammar, the phrase "a totally opposite" is generally considered incorrect. It's better to say "totally opposite" or "a complete opposite".

What's the difference between "a totally opposite" and "totally opposite"?

"Totally opposite" is generally the preferred and grammatically correct form. While "a totally opposite" may be encountered, it's not considered standard English. Using "totally opposite" avoids potential grammatical issues.

Which phrases can I use instead of "a totally opposite" to sound more formal?

For more formal alternatives, consider using phrases like "a stark contrast", "an inverse situation", or "a contrary scenario". These options often suit professional or academic contexts better.

How can I use "totally opposite" correctly in a sentence?

You can use "totally opposite" to describe something that is completely different from something else. For example: "Their opinions on the matter are totally opposite."