are not completely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'are not completely' is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
For example, "Although reviews of the product have been mostly positive, customers' concerns about the durability of the product are not completely unfounded."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Things are not completely solved.

The New York Times - Arts

The numbers are not completely reliable.

The Economist

The cases are not completely comparable, however.

The New York Times

Politicians are not completely powerless, however.

The New York Times

"But they are not completely tamper-proof.

The New York Times

I know, you are not completely alone in this.

The Guardian - Opinion

The dynamics of global dimming are not completely understood.

The New York Times

(Though, like vaccines, password managers are not completely foolproof solutions).

The New Yorker

"The flames of war are not completely extinguished," she said.

The New Yorker

They are not completely false, but they are completely shallow.

The New York Times

The sites are not completely seamless for consumers.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are not completely" to acknowledge limitations or exceptions to a general statement, adding nuance and accuracy to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "are not completely" when a stronger negative statement is more accurate. If something is almost entirely absent, stating it is entirely absent might be more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not completely" functions as a qualifier, softening a statement by indicating that something is not entirely true or finished. As Ludwig AI points out, it is a standard grammatical construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are not completely" serves as a valuable tool for adding precision and nuance to your writing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across a variety of contexts, particularly in news and science, as seen in the examples. It softens statements, acknowledging limitations or exceptions. When using this phrase, consider whether it accurately reflects the degree of incompleteness and whether a stronger statement might be more effective. Related phrases such as "are partially" or "are not entirely" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas. The provided guidance helps avoid overstating claims and ensures clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are not fully

Uses "fully" instead of "completely" to convey a similar meaning of lacking completion.

are not entirely

Substitutes "completely" with "entirely", maintaining the sense of not being whole or total.

are partially

Replaces "completely" with "partially", indicating a degree of incompleteness.

are not altogether

Employs "altogether" in place of "completely", suggesting a similar lack of totality.

are not altogether

Substitutes "completely" with "altogether", maintaining the sense of not being whole or total.

are not wholly

Similar to "not entirely" but uses "wholly" for emphasis.

are imperfectly

Replaces the whole phrase with "imperfectly", indicating the lack of perfection.

are only partly

Emphasizes the partial nature using "only partly".

do not entirely

Changes the verb "are" to "do", implying an incomplete action.

are somewhat

Uses "somewhat" to describe a partial state.

FAQs

How can I use "are not completely" in a sentence?

The phrase "are not completely" indicates a partial state or condition. For instance, "The issues "are not completely resolved"" suggests some progress has been made, but more work is needed.

What are some alternatives to "are not completely"?

Alternatives include "are partially", "are not entirely", or "are not fully". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of incompleteness you want to convey.

Is it better to say "are not completely" or "are partially"?

Both phrases express a similar idea, but "are not completely" suggests a stronger degree of incompleteness than "are partially". Choose the phrase that best reflects the actual situation.

What's the difference between "are not completely" and "are not entirely"?

The phrases "are not completely" and "are not entirely" are very similar and often interchangeable. However, "are not entirely" might imply a slightly greater degree of incompleteness than "are not completely".