be completely honest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be completely honest" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used as a request or a reminder for someone to tell the truth or be sincere in their words or actions. Example: "I want you to be completely honest with me, do you really think this is the right decision?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

When completing a participation form, be completely honest: Share the child's full medical history.

The New York Times

"Let's be completely honest.

The Guardian - Business

To be completely honest, I wasn't ready.

The New Yorker

To be completely honest, they weren't that self-selected.

The New York Times

To be completely honest, I'm more sort of in space.

The Guardian - Books

A bit tired, and to be completely honest, mildly depressed.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I'll be completely honest: it's smaller than I thought it'd be".

The New Yorker

I don't understand how anyone deals with it, to be completely honest".

The New York Times - Sports

SHERMAN Try to be completely honest with your children and also watch what you say.

The New York Times

She receives the reply, "Dear lady frog, I will be completely honest with you.

The New Yorker

I have to be completely honest and say there's a part of me that resents that.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be completely honest" as an invitation to open up a dialogue, signalling that you value truthful communication over superficial agreement.

Common error

While honesty is crucial, avoid using "be completely honest" as an excuse to be deliberately hurtful or insensitive. Frame your honesty with empathy and consider the impact of your words.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be completely honest" primarily functions as an imperative, urging the listener to speak truthfully and without reservation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used. It's a direct way of requesting sincerity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be completely honest" serves as a direct and commonly used imperative to encourage truthfulness and transparency. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread application, particularly in News & Media and Wiki contexts. While generally neutral to informal, adapting the phrasing to "be entirely candid" or "be fully transparent" might suit more formal settings. Remember that while honesty is important, delivering it with empathy is crucial to avoid unintended harm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be utterly truthful

This alternative emphasizes the importance of truth in its purest form.

be entirely sincere

This shifts the focus to the speaker's genuineness and heartfelt expression.

be fully transparent

This highlights openness and a lack of hidden information.

be perfectly candid

This suggests a direct and straightforward manner of speaking, without holding back.

be absolutely frank

This implies a boldness and willingness to speak openly, even if it might be uncomfortable.

be as truthful as possible

This acknowledges the difficulty of absolute truth but stresses the importance of aiming for it.

give an honest account

This focuses on providing a truthful and accurate description of events or circumstances.

tell the whole truth

Emphasizes completeness and leaving nothing out, ensuring all aspects are revealed.

lay it all on the table

This idiom suggests revealing everything without reservation or holding back.

call a spade a spade

This idiom emphasizes directness and honesty, even if it's blunt or unpopular.

FAQs

How can I use "be completely honest" in a sentence?

You can use "be completely honest" to ask someone for their sincere opinion or to emphasize the importance of truth in a given situation. For example, "Please, "be completely honest" with me, does this dress look good on me?"

What's a more formal way to say "be completely honest"?

In more formal settings, you could use phrases like "be entirely candid", "be fully transparent", or "provide a completely truthful account". These alternatives convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

Is it always appropriate to ask someone to "be completely honest"?

While sincerity is generally valued, there are situations where asking someone to "be completely honest" might be insensitive or inappropriate. Consider the context and potential impact of your request before using this phrase.

What can I say instead of "be completely honest" when I want to give feedback?

Instead of directly saying "be completely honest", you could preface your feedback with phrases like "In my honest opinion", "To be frank", or "If you want my honest assessment".