complete innocent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complete innocent" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "completely innocent," which can be used to describe someone who is entirely free from guilt or wrongdoing. Example: "Despite the accusations, she remained completely innocent in the eyes of her friends and family."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

He wasn't a complete innocent.

The New Yorker

I don't want to sound like a complete innocent — I've looked at things, of course.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was an experiment in hope - sending a cynic and a complete innocent to Disneyland Resort Paris for the weekend.

The Guardian - Travel

But never again will it have that complete innocent playfulness, and a part of you will wind up, like cowgirl Jessie, left under the child's bed, forgotten.

The Guardian - Film

For Marcus, unlike most earlier Roth heroes, is a complete innocent: an earnest, dutiful boy, who remains an earnest, dutiful boy until the day he dies — a boy whose only goals in his brief, truncated college career are to get straight A's, lose his virginity and go on to law school.

The New York Times - Books

Like a lot of women of my mother's generation, Flora enters marriage a complete innocent and is obliged to work her way through a series of ever more wounding compromises in order to maintain a happy and respectable front.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The investors who bought the collateralised debt obligation (CDO) were not complete innocents.

The Guardian - Business

The news from Boston of complete innocents killed and maimed by remorseless fanatics makes me even less inclined to second-guess the "rough men" on whom everything decent ultimately depends.

The New York Times

Complete innocents when it comes to the finer German wines, we accepted the advice of the kind and able sommelier and drank a smooth red Blauer Spatburgunder Baden Kaiserstuhl, Karl H. Johner (1998) ($39).

The New York Times - Travel

The idea of him (or indeed anyone) inadvertently giving their complete bank details to some cyber-criminals out of completely innocent ignorance terrifies me".

TechCrunch

Mr F is that rarest of beings, a complete sexual innocent, who has never experienced any stirrings of desire.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using the grammatically correct phrase "completely innocent" instead of "complete innocent" to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing. The adverb "completely" modifies the adjective "innocent" properly.

Common error

Avoid using adjectives like "complete" when an adverb like "completely" is required to modify another adjective. Remember, adverbs modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs, while adjectives modify nouns.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complete innocent" functions as a descriptive term, aiming to portray someone as free from guilt or wrongdoing. Although grammatically incorrect, Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in journalistic and literary contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

10%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "complete innocent" is used to describe someone as entirely free from guilt, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the proper phrasing is "completely innocent". Despite appearing in various news and media sources, it is better to use "completely innocent", "utterly innocent", or "totally innocent" for correctness. Always prioritize grammatical precision, especially in formal writing, to maintain clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly innocent

Emphasizes the extent of innocence, suggesting a total absence of guilt or knowledge.

totally innocent

Similar to "utterly innocent", highlights the complete absence of culpability.

entirely innocent

Synonymous with "utterly innocent" and "totally innocent", emphasizing complete innocence.

completely blameless

Shifts focus from innocence to the absence of blame or responsibility.

wholly innocent

Indicates a full and absolute state of innocence, similar to 'utterly'.

perfectly innocent

Highlights the flawless nature of the innocence, free from any blemish or suspicion.

genuinely innocent

Emphasizes the authenticity of the innocence, assuring it's not feigned.

truly innocent

Affirms the verity and sincerity of the innocence, implying a lack of deception.

quite innocent

Suggests a noticeable degree of innocence, though possibly not absolute.

fairly innocent

Indicates a moderate degree of innocence, implying some minor involvement or knowledge.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "complete innocent"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct phrase is "completely innocent". "Complete" is an adjective, while "completely" is an adverb needed to modify the adjective "innocent".

What's the difference between "complete innocent" and "completely innocent"?

"Complete innocent" is grammatically incorrect, as it misuses the adjective "complete" instead of the adverb "completely". "Completely innocent" is the correct form to indicate someone who is entirely free from guilt.

What are some alternatives to saying "complete innocent"?

Instead of "complete innocent", use phrases like "utterly innocent", "totally innocent", or "entirely innocent" to describe someone without guilt.

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

You can use "completely innocent" to describe someone who is not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing. For example: "The jury found him to be completely innocent of all charges."