completely and thoroughly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely and thoroughly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is done in an exhaustive or total manner. Example: "The report was reviewed completely and thoroughly to ensure all details were accurate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The board was completely and thoroughly briefed on the subject on Wednesday.

The New York Times

"And his entire team here engaged in this process completely and thoroughly".

The New York Times

With fund-raising and participation as their primary functions, and many participants walking portions of the course, such events have contributed to the fact that "running has become completely and thoroughly democratized" in recent years, Mr. Willey said.

The New York Times

High-frequency traders thus must ensure that these algorithms have been tested completely and thoroughly before they are deployed into the live systems of the financial markets.

Financial Innovation

But My Lai was also an anomaly because it was the one war crime that was completely and thoroughly investigated.

Vice

Furthermore, teachers were familiar with LLL; the majority of them had reviewed the program completely and thoroughly before use (59.7%, n = 77).

Health Education Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Our country is completely, entirely, and thoroughly broke.

Huffington Post

Salt (if present) must be completely dissolved and thoroughly distributed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Each watch is assembled, tested, then completely disassembled and thoroughly cleaned," Mr. Robel said.

The New York Times

The so-called Crimea argument, as it were — combined with a completely denuded and thoroughly controlled political sphere — meant he didn't really have to.

The New Yorker

Dwarfed by John Gunter's design of grim, towering, parking-lot-grey, Whishaw comes on as completely vulnerable and thoroughly adolescent, holding himself apart from everything around him and yet disturbed by it all.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "completely and thoroughly" when you want to emphasize the exhaustive and comprehensive nature of an action or investigation. It adds weight and clarity to your writing, assuring the reader of the depth and scope of the process.

Common error

Avoid using "completely and thoroughly" in overly casual or informal writing. The phrase's formality can sound stilted or unnatural in relaxed settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "fully" or "really" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely and thoroughly" functions as an intensifier, modifying verbs or adjectives to emphasize the degree to which an action is performed or a quality is present. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is acceptable and contributes to conveying the idea of full and exhaustive execution.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

28%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "completely and thoroughly" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to emphasize the exhaustive nature of an action. As verified by Ludwig AI, this phrase is acceptable and well-suited for formal reports, investigations, or any context where attention to detail is paramount. While versatile, overuse in informal settings should be avoided. Alternatives like "fully and exhaustively" or "entirely and comprehensively" offer similar emphasis with slight nuances. When using "completely and thoroughly", ensure the context aligns with its level of formality to maintain a natural and appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fully and exhaustively

Replaces "completely" with "fully" and "thoroughly" with "exhaustively", emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the action.

Entirely and comprehensively

Substitutes "completely" with "entirely" and "thoroughly" with "comprehensively", highlighting the all-encompassing aspect.

Exhaustively and fully

Reverses the order and replaces "completely" with "fully", shifting the emphasis slightly while maintaining the core meaning.

Totally and meticulously

Replaces "completely" with "totally" and "thoroughly" with "meticulously", focusing on the detailed and careful execution.

Utterly and scrupulously

Substitutes "completely" with "utterly" and "thoroughly" with "scrupulously", emphasizing the rigorous and conscientious approach.

Wholly and rigorously

Replaces "completely" with "wholly" and "thoroughly" with "rigorously", highlighting the full extent and strictness of the action.

Down to the last detail

This alternative has a narrower focus on details, but still suggests complete attention and focus.

In every aspect

This alternative is a more general phrase that conveys completeness but lacks the intensity of "thoroughly".

From top to bottom

Represents a colloquial and more visual alternative, suggesting a complete search or review.

Inside and out

Offers a figurative way to say "completely and thoroughly", useful when detailing a search, cleaning or understanding of something.

FAQs

How can I use "completely and thoroughly" in a sentence?

You can use "completely and thoroughly" to emphasize the depth of an action, as in "The evidence was examined "completely and thoroughly" by the investigators".

What phrases are similar to "completely and thoroughly"?

Alternatives include "fully and exhaustively", "entirely and comprehensively", or "totally and meticulously", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use both "completely" and "thoroughly"?

While both words share a similar meaning, using them together emphasizes the exhaustive nature of the action. The phrase isn't strictly redundant but amplifies the sense of comprehensiveness.

In what contexts is "completely and thoroughly" most appropriate?

"Completely and thoroughly" is well-suited for formal reports, investigations, or any situation where you need to highlight the rigorous and exhaustive nature of a process. Lighter contexts may do well by using phrases such as: "absolutely", "totally" or perfectly