about completely different

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about completely different" is not correct in standard written English.
It can be used when discussing topics or subjects that are entirely distinct from one another, but it needs to be rephrased for clarity. Example: "The two theories are about completely different concepts in physics."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Let's think about completely different kinds of networks.

Cornell University

Advertisers still seem convinced that men and women care about completely different things and target them accordingly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When interviewed again after two years, the children who were initially between four and seven years old spoke about completely different events during the follow-up, even after being given hints.

The Guardian

These are completely separate stories, about completely different people, but the confusing thing is that the same actress plays both parts, and eventually everything gets mixed up, their lives weaving in and out of each other, until neither the housewife nor the prostitute knows for sure who she is or where she is.

The New Yorker

"What's interesting about Hitler Moustache [he has just finished its latest run] is that I've had very few walk-outs compared to other shows that I've done, and the people who have complained have all been cross about completely different things.

Independent

Doctors, insurers, hospitals and politicians all talk about completely different things: "The only people who could really bang heads together would be the federal government".Indeed, for all the evidence of mounting pressure from below, a command-and-control organisation will change only when the top wants it to do so.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

They talk about one thing and in the next sentence they talk about something completely different.

Conflict and Health

When your entire audience is thinking about the Olympics, or the Rugby World Cup, if your brand is talking about something completely different it can in fact feel a little out of place in their news feeds.

The Guardian - Tech

We talked to the children quite a lot about these issues and how lucky they were, and thought it would be good for them to learn about a completely different way of life.

The Guardian

This film is about a completely different type of family".

The New York Times

"But we're here about a completely different matter.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Rephrase the expression for improved clarity. Use alternatives like "concerning completely different subjects" or "regarding entirely different matters" to enhance grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "about completely different" directly. It's grammatically awkward. Always aim for a more structured and precise expression like "about completely different things" or, even better, use the alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase, while technically incorrect, functions as a prepositional modifier aiming to describe the state of being distinctly unrelated. As Ludwig AI points out, it needs rephrasing for improved clarity. Many sentences use it in contexts where dissimilar items are compared.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "about completely different" is used to describe distinct dissimilarities, it is grammatically weak. Ludwig AI recommends rephrasing for clarity. It appears most frequently in News & Media. For improved writing, consider using alternatives like "on entirely different matters" or "concerning completely distinct subjects". Avoid using "about completely different" in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on entirely different matters

Focuses on the subject matter, emphasizing complete dissimilarity in topic.

regarding totally unrelated issues

Highlights the lack of connection or relevance between issues being discussed.

concerning completely distinct subjects

Emphasizes the separateness and lack of overlap between the subjects.

dealing with vastly different areas

Highlights that the areas or fields under consideration are significantly unalike.

pertaining to wholly different aspects

Emphasizes the different angles or perspectives being considered.

covering entirely separate topics

Focuses on the distinctness of the themes or subjects being covered.

addressing fundamentally different questions

Highlights that the underlying inquiries or problems being addressed are not the same.

talking about completely disparate things

Emphasizes the dissimilarity of items or concepts.

in relation to thoroughly unconnected items

Points out that the items in question have no connection or link to each other.

with reference to absolutely divergent points

Highlights the disparity and divergence of the points being referenced.

FAQs

How to use the phrase "about completely different" correctly?

While "about completely different" is technically incorrect, you can say "about completely different things" or rephrase it using alternatives like "regarding entirely different" or "concerning completely distinct".

What are some alternatives to "about completely different"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "on entirely different matters", "dealing with vastly different areas", or "pertaining to wholly different aspects".

Is it acceptable to use "about completely different" in formal writing?

No, it is not recommended to use "about completely different" in formal writing. It is grammatically weak and should be replaced with a more precise and structured alternative for clarity.

What's the difference between "about completely different" and "about completely different things"?

"About completely different" is grammatically incorrect and sounds awkward. "About completely different things" is grammatically better because it includes the noun "things", but it's still preferable to use stronger alternatives such as "concerning completely distinct subjects" or "regarding totally unrelated issues".