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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

absolute

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "absolute" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word when you want to describe something as complete, total, or definite. For example: "He was absolutely sure of his decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Music

Sport

Politics

Environment

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Absolute heaven.

Just like British citizens, there is no absolute right to unemployment benefit".

News & Media

The Guardian

For all his rhetoric about Munich 1938 and the need to avoid appeasement, Cameron's emphasis in the Ukraine is economic, not military, saying he has been "at the absolute front end of those arguing for broader sanctions".

News & Media

The Guardian

The increased risk of developing a "risky" drinking habit from over-work was small in absolute terms, Okechukwu said.

News & Media

The Guardian

According to the report: "The size of the benefit to families with children from the new child-care package is, in any case, much smaller in magnitude than the cuts proposed in the 2014‐15 budget which will still clearly leave families at the bottom end of the income spectrum significantly worse off in absolute and percentage terms.

News & Media

The Guardian

If someone puts me in a room, I'll have 25 minutes of absolute quality, then for the rest of the day I'm useless.

In a 500-page report, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) called for urgent improvements in the accountability of undercover firearms operations after finding that a lack of audio or video material "made it difficult, and on occasions impossible, to know with absolute certainty what happened".

News & Media

The Guardian

I couldn't say with absolute certainty that he is deliberately setting out to be regarded as the most unpleasant man in the business, but he is certainly making a good fist of it.

It will not be defeated until our determination is as complete as theirs, our defence of freedom as absolute as their fanaticism, until our passion for the democratic way is as great as their passion for tyranny.

News & Media

The Guardian

"He had an absolute focus on bread and butter issues, and because of that was able to focus on visionary things, like building the Royal theatre, or fixing up the historic buildings at Macquarie street, saving the rainforests, introducing anti-discrimination laws, but above all I think saving the rainforest," Carr said.

News & Media

The Guardian

Related: Miliband: I won't have Labour government if it means SNP deal Aside from one and a half debates, stage-managed to the point of absolute stiltedness, the party leaders have shown such a terminal unwillingness to be seen in each other's company that I've started to develop three key theories about them.

News & Media

The Guardian
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolute" to emphasize the completeness or totality of something, ensuring the context aligns with the intended strength of the descriptor.

Common error

Avoid using "absolute" when the situation involves a degree of subjectivity or qualification. Reserve it for situations where the quality or quantity is truly complete and undeniable.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The word "absolute" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to denote a state of completeness, totality, or lack of restriction. Ludwig AI indicates its widespread usage in diverse contexts, underscoring its versatility in adding emphasis or clarity to descriptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Music

8%

Sport

8%

Less common in

Politics

8%

Environment

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absolute" functions as an adjective to convey completeness, totality, or lack of restriction. Ludwig AI confirms its prevalent use across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. It's essential to reserve "absolute" for situations genuinely warranting such emphasis, avoiding overuse in qualified contexts. Consider alternatives like "complete" or "total" for nuanced expressions. Employ "absolute" to underscore a quality or state is complete and unequivocal.

FAQs

How can I use "absolute" in a sentence?

You can use "absolute" to describe something that is complete, total, or without limitations. For example, "He has "absolute confidence" in his abilities" or "The decision is "absolute final"".

What are some alternatives to "absolute"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "complete", "total", "utter", or "unconditional".

Is it correct to say "almost absolute"?

While "almost absolute" is sometimes used, it can be seen as contradictory. "Absolute" implies completeness, so adding "almost" can weaken the statement. Consider using a different word like "nearly complete" or "virtually absolute" instead.

What's the difference between "absolute" and "relative"?

"Absolute" refers to something that is fixed and independent of context, while "relative" depends on context or comparison. For example, "absolute zero" is a fixed temperature, while "relative humidity" depends on the air temperature.

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Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: