completely as though

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely as though" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize a comparison or a hypothetical situation, but it may require rephrasing for clarity. Example: "He acted completely as though he had no idea what was happening."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He can withdraw from a room while continuing to sit in it as completely as though he had got up and walked out of the door, and sometimes, during such a silence, he puts in some private work on whatever song he happens to be writing.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Today's marketing channels have completely changed — though not as much as you may think.

Forbes

All was not completely lost though, as 1,500 of Lowe's contact sheets were located elsewhere in New York.

The Guardian - Arts

The latter cannot be completely avoided though, as some of the expressions that need to be evaluated for the computation of the host protein synthesis rate and host protein concentration involve functions that are not splines (Section S4 of the Additional file 1).

BMC Systems Biology

"It's funny that it's all started so recently, making art, because it feels completely natural, as though it's been there my whole life and just needed to wait until the right time to start coming out," Ferber said.

HuffPost

It is completely bizarre, as though the officials always have to justify their decisions.

Independent

We're the region that gets completely ignored as though we don't exist.

The Guardian

"Cattail Sculpture," by John Graney, the Peters Valley resident blacksmith, looks completely natural, as though it were nourished by the light from a nearby window.

The New York Times

Degas wanted his depictions of bathtub and toilette scenes to seem completely real, as though you were looking through a keyhole.

The New York Times

They appeared to be completely relaxed, as though they were impervious to the sounds of bullets and shouting, or to the numbers of wounded and dead Egyptians being reported on Al Jazeera, which was being broadcast on the coffee shop's television.

The New York Times

And when Guccione died, she was set completely adrift, as though she'd woken from a life-long dream.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "completely as though", ensure it adds emphasis or clarity to your sentence. If a simpler phrase like "as though" suffices, consider using it for conciseness.

Common error

Avoid using "completely as though" when "as though" conveys the same meaning. Redundancy can weaken your writing. Favor clarity over embellishment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely as though" functions as a conjunction, connecting a statement with a hypothetical or comparative element. Ludwig indicates it emphasizes the thoroughness or totality of the comparison, suggesting something is entirely similar to something else.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "completely as though" serves to emphasize a comparison, indicating that something is entirely similar to something else. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered acceptable but not particularly common, with a neutral register that fits well in news, science, and general writing. While grammatically sound, the phrase may benefit from rephrasing into alternatives like "entirely as if" or simply "as though" for increased conciseness and clarity. It's crucial to use the phrase judiciously, ensuring that it adds meaningful emphasis rather than contributing to redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely as if

Replaces "completely" with "entirely", offering a slightly more formal tone.

totally as though

Substitutes "completely" with "totally", providing a more casual feel.

just as if

Omits "completely", focusing on the comparison using "just as if".

precisely as if

Emphasizes the accuracy of the comparison by using "precisely".

exactly as if

Highlights the comparison's accuracy with "exactly".

perfectly as if

Stresses the completeness of the comparison through "perfectly".

quite as if

Introduces a slightly less emphatic comparison using "quite".

virtually as if

Indicates that the comparison is almost, but not exactly, true using "virtually".

almost as though

Similar meaning using "almost" to soften the strength of the comparison.

seemingly as if

Adds a layer of appearance or perception to the comparison using "seemingly".

FAQs

How can I use "completely as though" in a sentence?

You can use "completely as though" to emphasize a comparison, implying something is entirely like something else. For example, "He acted "completely as though" he had no idea what was happening."

What's the difference between "as though" and "completely as though"?

"Completely as though" intensifies the comparison made by "as though". The former emphasizes that the resemblance is total, while the latter simply suggests a likeness.

What are some alternatives to "completely as though"?

Alternatives include "entirely as if", "totally as though", or simply "as though", depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is "completely as though" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, "completely as though" can sometimes sound redundant. It's often grammatically acceptable but may benefit from being rephrased for conciseness and clarity.