completely a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely a decade" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a clear meaning, as "completely" does not logically modify "a decade." Example: "It has been completely a decade since we last met" would be better phrased as "It has been a full decade since we last met."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It expired completely a decade later, and, as the subsidies disappeared, so did many factories, relocating to places where labor was cheaper and regulation lighter.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They still rely for water on tankers from nearby Basra.Before Saddam's fall, environmentalists had predicted that Iraq's ancient marshlands would be completely destroyed within a decade.

The Economist

During his on-stage conversation with style writer Peter York at London's Groucho Club, Coleridge recalled a "futurologist" having predicted 15 years ago that the magazine industry would be completely over within a decade because of "the onslaught of digital".

The Guardian

If this link is confirmed then we can only expect more and worse extreme weather in future years, since sea ice is retreating so fast that the summer ice cover is likely to completely disappear within a decade or so, maybe even this year or next.

The Guardian

Formerly part of the famous Silk Road, the Aral Sea will be completely dry within a decade.

BBC

The company's then-number-one market of South Korea had already peaked (and will completely disappear within a decade).

Forbes

This policy proved completely ineffective within a decade.

Wikipedia

And the God of Parking Lots could never love again, growing completely apathetic for a decade until he was mercifully fired after the buildup of complaints reached higher above.

Huffington Post

Your world will change completely in about a decade and, without really having planned it, you will end up on this tiny island on the other side of the world called Manhattan -- a place full of people who are weird, crazy and sometimes totally unsure of themselves -- just like you.

Huffington Post

Meanwhile, having sat closed for a decade, completely derelict, one of the U.K.'s first amusement parks — the circa-1870 Dreopened — reopened last summer with its 1920 roller coaster restored, plus a disco-style roller rink.

The New York Times - Travel

So I dropped comedy completely, and for over a decade I did everything else but stand-up.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events spanning ten years, consider using phrases like "throughout the decade" or "over the decade".

Common error

Avoid using adverbs like "completely" to directly modify time periods such as "decade". "Completely" typically describes the extent or completeness of an action or state, not a unit of time. For example, it's better to say something was "completely finished within a decade" than to use "completely a decade" directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely a decade" doesn't function as a standard grammatical unit in English. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is not considered correct. Typically, adverbs like "completely" modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, not nouns representing time periods.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "completely a decade" is not grammatically correct in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, the construction is awkward and lacks clarity. While some occurrences can be found in diverse sources, it's best to use alternative phrases like "a full decade" or "an entire decade" for better clarity and grammatical correctness. Using more precise language ensures effective communication in both formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a full decade

Emphasizes the entirety of the ten-year period.

an entire decade

Highlights that the whole decade is being considered.

a solid decade

Suggests a continuous and substantial period of ten years.

a complete decade

Indicates the decade is finished or concluded.

for ten years straight

Focuses on the unbroken sequence of years.

ten consecutive years

Stresses the uninterrupted nature of the decade.

throughout the decade

Highlights actions or events occurring across the ten-year span.

over the decade

Similar to 'throughout the decade', indicating a period covering the decade.

during the decade

Specifies that events occurred at some point within the ten years.

in the course of a decade

Emphasizes the progression or changes occurring during that time.

FAQs

What does "completely a decade" mean?

The phrase "completely a decade" is not standard English and its meaning is unclear. It's better to use phrases like "a full decade" or "an entire decade" to express a period of ten years.

How can I use the term "decade" correctly in a sentence?

You can use "decade" with prepositions like "in", "during", or "over", or with adjectives that describe the decade, such as "a full decade". For instance, "Many changes happened "during the decade"" is grammatically correct.

Is it correct to say "completely a year" or "completely a month"?

No, similar to "completely a decade", these phrases are not standard English. Use alternatives like "a full year" or "an entire month".

What are some synonyms for phrases like "throughout the decade"?

Synonyms include "over the decade", "during the ten-year period", or "in the course of a decade". The best choice depends on the specific context.