be completely disingenuous of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be completely disingenuous of" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct form would typically be "to be completely disingenuous about" or "to be completely disingenuous in." Example: "It would be completely disingenuous of him to claim he was unaware of the situation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It would be completely disingenuous of me to dispute that.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is completely disingenuous for these self-interested entities, who have been the masters of their own decline, to point to the BBC's website as the culprit.

The Guardian

"I would be completely disingenuous if I didn't say I really enjoy this stuff," he added.

The New Yorker

Those who oppose equality make a number of arguments, some which are completely disingenuous and others that warrant consideration.

Huffington Post

"To claim these cups are part of a cost-cutting measure is completely disingenuous," Honda said in a statement.

Huffington Post

Sydney-based pediatrician David Isaacs, one of the signatories, said the government's response was completely "disingenuous".

The Guardian

You deleted the only evidence of you showing any remorse, and even that was completely disingenuous.

Vice

All this is completely disingenuous.

The New York Times - Arts

The rave reviews for Palin were completely disingenuous.

The New York Times

Suggesting that organic food was ever about the nutrients is completely disingenuous.

The New York Times

Further, the rhetoric about work requirements is completely disingenuous: the program already prevents able-bodied adults without dependents from receiving more than three months of benefits in any three-year period if they are not working.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, consider using phrases like "be completely disingenuous about" or "be completely disingenuous in" instead of "be completely disingenuous of".

Common error

Avoid using "of" after "disingenuous"; instead, use "about" or "in" to maintain grammatical correctness. For instance, say "be disingenuous about the reasons" instead of "be disingenuous of the reasons".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be completely disingenuous of" functions as a descriptive expression, aiming to characterize someone's behavior as lacking sincerity or honesty. However, it's crucial to note, as indicated by Ludwig AI, that this specific construction is not considered grammatically correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be completely disingenuous of" aims to express a lack of sincerity, Ludwig AI flags this specific grammatical structure as incorrect. Correct alternatives include "be completely disingenuous about" or "be completely disingenuous in". Despite some appearances in varied sources, the ungrammatical status suggests careful consideration and potential revision during writing. The analysis indicates rare usage, but the intent is clear – to criticize someone’s honesty. Therefore, while the phrase conveys meaning, prioritizing grammatical precision and recognized style is critical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be entirely insincere about

Replaces "disingenuous" with "insincere", focusing on a lack of genuine feeling.

be wholly deceitful regarding

Substitutes "disingenuous" with "deceitful", emphasizing the act of misleading.

be utterly dishonest about

Replaces "disingenuous" with "dishonest", highlighting a lack of truthfulness.

be completely untruthful concerning

Replaces "disingenuous" with "untruthful", focusing on the absence of truth.

be patently false about

Emphasizes the obvious nature of the falsehood.

misrepresent the truth entirely

Focuses on the act of misrepresentation rather than the character of being disingenuous.

be acting in bad faith regarding

Shifts the focus to the intention behind the lack of honesty.

be practicing total duplicity about

Emphasizes the deceptive nature of the actions.

deliberately mislead about

Highlights the intentionality of the deception.

lack all candor concerning

Focuses on a lack of openness and honesty.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "be completely disingenuous of"?

No, the phrase "be completely disingenuous of" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's more appropriate to say "be completely disingenuous about" or "be completely disingenuous in."

What are some alternatives to "be completely disingenuous of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "be entirely insincere about", "be wholly deceitful regarding", or "be utterly dishonest about".

How can I use "be completely disingenuous" correctly in a sentence?

To use the core concept correctly, you might say, "It would be completely disingenuous about his intentions" or "He was completely disingenuous in his claims".

What's the difference between "be disingenuous about" and "be disingenuous of"?

"Be disingenuous about" and "be disingenuous in" are grammatically sound ways to express a lack of sincerity or honesty regarding a specific topic or action. "Be disingenuous of" is generally considered incorrect.