are completely unprepared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are completely unprepared" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone or a group is not ready or equipped to handle a particular task or challenge. Example: "When the exam was announced last minute, the students realized they are completely unprepared for it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But they are completely unprepared.

The New York Times

So perhaps that is the risk that investors are completely unprepared for; deflation and another downturn.

The Economist

According to Nielsen, about 2.8 million homes are completely unprepared for the transition.

The New York Times

Student-athletes who are completely "unprepared for the rigors of college academics" should simply not be in college.

The New York Times - Sports

Investors, according to Bhageria, are completely unprepared for this change.

TechCrunch

While technology marches on at the pace of Moore's Law, our governments and political systems at large are completely unprepared for these drastic changes already on the horizon.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

She was completely unprepared.

The New Yorker

I was completely unprepared.

The Guardian - Arts

I was completely unprepared for this.

The Guardian - Money

They were completely unprepared for the brouhaha.

The New York Times

I was completely unprepared at 26 to come out again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are completely unprepared", ensure the context clearly defines what they are unprepared for to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify whether they "are completely unprepared for the exam", or "are completely unprepared for the changes".

Common error

Avoid using "are completely unprepared" when individuals or groups have some level of readiness. Instead, opt for phrases like "are partially prepared" or "are somewhat unready" to more accurately reflect their state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are completely unprepared" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It describes the state of being of a subject, indicating a total lack of readiness for a specific situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are completely unprepared" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English that describes a state of total unreadiness. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable expression. While relatively common, it is most frequently found in News & Media sources. When using this phrase, be specific about what the subject is unprepared for. Alternatives include phrases like "are totally unready" or "are entirely unequipped", which offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are totally unready

Changes 'completely unprepared' to 'totally unready', using different synonyms to express a lack of readiness.

are entirely unequipped

Replaces 'completely unprepared' with 'entirely unequipped', emphasizing a lack of necessary resources or skills.

are wholly ill-prepared

Substitutes 'completely unprepared' with 'wholly ill-prepared', conveying a sense of being poorly or inadequately ready.

are thoroughly unready

Modifies 'completely unprepared' to 'thoroughly unready', intensifying the degree of unpreparedness.

are caught off guard

Uses an idiomatic expression instead of a direct description, indicating a surprise situation leading to unpreparedness.

are taken by surprise

Similar to 'caught off guard', this implies a sudden event leaving someone without preparation.

are caught unawares

This alternative highlights the unexpected nature of the situation, leading to a state of being unprepared.

lack the necessary preparation

Expresses the unpreparedness as a deficiency in prior planning or readiness.

haven't made adequate preparations

Focuses on the absence of sufficient preparatory actions.

find themselves wanting

Uses a more metaphorical expression to indicate a deficiency in what's needed.

FAQs

How can I use "are completely unprepared" in a sentence?

You can use "are completely unprepared" to describe a situation where someone or a group is not ready for something. For example: "The students "are completely unprepared" for the test because they didn't study."

What are some alternatives to "are completely unprepared"?

Alternatives include "are totally unready", "are entirely unequipped", or "are wholly ill-prepared", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "are completely unprepared" or "were completely unprepared"?

The correct tense depends on the context. Use "are completely unprepared" for present situations and "were completely unprepared" for past situations. For example, "They "are completely unprepared" now, but they were prepared yesterday".

What does it mean to say someone is "completely unprepared"?

It means they have made no arrangements or preparations for something, and they are not ready to face it. Synonyms may include "caught off guard" or "lack the necessary preparation".