be completely innocent of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be completely innocent of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has no involvement or guilt in a particular situation or action. Example: "Despite the accusations, she was able to prove that she was completely innocent of any wrongdoing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Lewis may be completely innocent of the charges.

The New York Times - Sports

The Economist cannot claim to be completely innocent of such crimes, so in the interest of self-improvement we are introducing an occasional series to highlight statistical abuse.

The Economist

Strzok may be completely innocent of everything except an offhand joke that the straight-laced Mueller deemed necessary to punish in a display of a "Caesar's wife" sort of purity of purpose.

The Washington Post

Even if you or I are American citizens, even if we turn out to be completely innocent of what he has accused us of doing, he has the power to have us seized as we are changing planes at Newark tomorrow, or have us taken with a knock on the door; ship you or me to a navy brig; and keep you or me in isolation, possibly for months, while awaiting trial.

The Guardian

It's become a witch hunt, and those students, being hunted, in most cases may be completely innocent of any wrongdoing.

Huffington Post

Also, the percentage of those stopped and frisked (84% in 2014) mirror the last two years of the Ray Kelly and Mike Bloomberg era (87% in 2012 and 85% in 2013), while the vast majority (82% in 2014) are still found to be completely innocent of any wrongdoing.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Nearly 90 percent of the people stopped were completely innocent of any wrongdoing.

The New York Times

In 2,467,150 of those encounters -- 88.2 percent -- the people were completely innocent of any wrongdoing.

The New York Times

Upward of 90 percent of the people stopped are completely innocent of any wrongdoing.

The New York Times

"He is completely innocent of everything they say," said his wife, Naziq, who wore black.

The New York Times

On average, 88% of those stopped were completely innocent of any crime or misdemeanor.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "be completely innocent of", ensure the context clearly defines what the subject is innocent of. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "be completely innocent of" implies general moral purity. It only refers to the specific charge or situation mentioned. Make sure to explicitly state what someone is innocent of to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be completely innocent of" functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It attributes a quality (innocence) to a subject, specifying that the subject lacks any guilt or involvement in a particular matter. Ludwig AI examples illustrate this function in various contexts, from legal accusations to general wrongdoing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be completely innocent of" is a versatile expression used to assert the absence of guilt or wrongdoing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a predicate adjective phrase, frequently appearing in news and media contexts. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, clarity in specifying what one is innocent of is crucial to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "be entirely blameless for" or "have no culpability for" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis. Remember that claiming one is "completely innocent of" only applies to specific charges or situations, not general moral character.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be entirely blameless for

Emphasizes the lack of responsibility for any wrongdoing.

bear no guilt regarding

Highlights the absence of guilt or culpability.

be without fault in relation to

Indicates a lack of error or mistake in connection to something.

have no culpability for

Focuses specifically on the absence of legal responsibility.

be absolved of all responsibility for

Suggests a formal release from blame or duty.

be cleared of any charges relating to

Implies a legal exoneration from accusations.

be vindicated from accusations of

Highlights the act of being proven right or justified after doubt.

be beyond reproach concerning

Indicates that conduct is above criticism.

stand exonerated from allegations of

Emphasizes the state of being officially cleared from charges.

hold no accountability for

Expresses lack of duty or obligation for particular action.

FAQs

How can I use "be completely innocent of" in a sentence?

Use "be completely innocent of" to assert someone's lack of guilt or involvement in a particular act or situation. For example, "The suspect was proven to "be completely innocent of" the crime after new evidence surfaced."

What are some alternative phrases for "be completely innocent of"?

You can use phrases like "be entirely blameless for", "bear no guilt regarding", or "have no culpability for" as alternatives to "be completely innocent of", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "be completely innocent of" in formal writing?

Yes, "be completely innocent of" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in legal or journalistic contexts where precise language is essential. It clearly and directly conveys the absence of guilt or wrongdoing.

What is the difference between "be completely innocent of" and "plead innocence"?

"Be completely innocent of" asserts a state of actual innocence, meaning the person did not commit the act. "Plead innocence" is a legal term indicating that a defendant is claiming to be not guilty, but it does not necessarily mean they are actually innocent.