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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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completely complete

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely complete" is not grammatically correct and would not be used in formal written English.
It is redundant to use both "completely" and "complete" in the same sentence. Instead, you could use other adverbs to emphasize completeness, such as "totally complete" or "utterly complete." Here is an example of using "totally complete" in a sentence: "After hours of hard work, the project was finally deemed totally complete by the team leader."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Let's hope that Penzler's "Most Complete" anthology precludes the possibility of a "Completely Complete" one.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The human remains of Marguerite Duras are not in the Pantheon, but her literary legacy has found a place in its printed counterpart, the Bibliothèque de la Pléiade.* In Libération, Claire Devarrieux outlines the event: "Two volumes now, two more in 2014, four volumes of the 'Complete Works,' from which is missing some of her journalistic writings to be completely complete".

News & Media

The New Yorker

A useful parameter for gauging wetting is the spreading parameter S, S\ = \gamma_{SG}- \gamma_{SL}+\gamma_{LG}) When S > 0, the liquid wets the surface completely (complete wetting).

Even in those cases in which the tumor has apparently been removed completely (complete remission), micrometastases of dormant tumor cells (or cancer stem cells) often lead to relapse and to final therapeutic failure.

The thymus and the T-cells are absent completely (complete DGS) in a very small number of patients, but most subjects have a milder form of immunodeficiency (incomplete DGS).

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

All objects that subsist (and a fortiori all objects that exist) are completely determined, but not all complete objects exist or have being (1915, §§25 7, 169 202).

Science

SEP

"We will not start unless it will be completely quiet, complete cessation.

News & Media

The New York Times

Using Facebook's APIs, Microsoft created a demo app which was completely reskinned, complete with news feed, contacts, and photos.

News & Media

TechCrunch

"It's completely fabricated, complete trash, garbage," Manning told ESPN host Lisa Salters.

News & Media

Huffington Post

The building was completely renovated, complete with fake ATMs, columns, desks, and double-glazed windows.

"It's completely fabricated, complete trash, garbage," Manning said of allegations that human growth hormone was mailed to his home.

News & Media

Huffington Post
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using redundant phrases like "completely complete". Instead, choose a single, strong adverb or adjective to convey the intended meaning.

Common error

Using "completely" before "complete" is redundant. Opt for stronger verbs or adjectives to enhance your writing without unnecessary repetition.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely complete" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, aiming to emphasize the state of being finished. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically incorrect due to redundancy, as 'complete' already implies a total state.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "completely complete" is grammatically incorrect due to its redundant nature. While examples can be found in various sources, Ludwig AI advises against its use in formal writing. It's considered an informal expression used to emphasize the state of being finished, but a stronger word is better in its place. A better approach would be to use alternatives that add emphasis without the redundancy, like "utterly complete" or "fully complete". Using strong verbs or adjectives is another approach to enhance writing without unnecessary repetition.

FAQs

How to avoid redundancy when using the word "complete"?

To avoid redundancy, use strong verbs or adjectives that imply completeness. For example, instead of saying "completely finish", use "finalize" or "conclude". If you want to emphasis that something is complete you can use alternatives like "utterly complete", "totally complete", or "fully complete".

What can I say instead of "completely complete"?

You can use alternatives like "utterly complete", "absolutely complete", or "perfectly complete" depending on the context.

Is "completely complete" grammatically correct?

No, "completely complete" is grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. The adverb "completely" modifies the adjective "complete", but "complete" already implies a state of being finished or whole, making the adverb unnecessary.

What is the difference between "completely complete" and "utterly complete"?

While both phrases aim to emphasize completeness, "completely complete" is redundant and grammatically awkward. "Utterly complete" is a better alternative because it uses a different adverb to emphasize completeness without repeating the same word. Other alternatives are "totally complete" and "fully complete".

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: