completely or partly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely or partly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is either fully or partially true, applicable, or present. Example: "The project was successful, but the results were completely or partly dependent on external factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

She speculated that as many as two-thirds of hospitals might opt out completely or partly.

The New York Times

Forty-five parks would be completely or partly closed, including those with redwoods, waterfronts and historical sites.

The New York Times

Finding strains that are completely or partly toothless helps identify genes that are vital for tooth development.

The New York Times - Science

The city has estimated that about 55percentt of current welfare recipients are completely or partly unable to work.

The New York Times

In some families the delthyrium is closed completely or partly by one plate, the pseudodeltidium, anchored to the delthyrial margins.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Reinsurance policies are backups purchased by insurance companies to completely or partly insure the risk they have assumed for their customers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

He also defended the government own four trillion yuan, or $585 billion, stimulus program, saying it had been "misunderstood" by some who questioned whether the package was completely new or partly composed of older projects for which money had already been allotted.

The New York Times

A dichotomous variable was used for the purposes of the present study, in which responding either "completely correct" or "partly correct" was defined as having DIMS.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

The hearing status of the sires of study dogs was known for 63% or 512 of the 810 study dogs from completely- or partly-tested litters.

BMC Veterinary Research

Floor layers are highly exposed to various knee-stressing work positions in their work tasks, defined as work in kneeling positions, completely on both or partly on one knee using the other as support, and as squatting work positions.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

We classified information on methods items as (1) completely reported, (2) partly reported, or (3) not reported.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "completely or partly", ensure the context clearly indicates which aspect (complete or partial) is more relevant to the discussion. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "completely or partly" in situations where the partial aspect is already implied. For instance, stating "The repair was completely or partly successful" is redundant if a repair's success inherently suggests varying degrees of completion. Instead, focus on specifying the degree of success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely or partly" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the extent to which an action or state is fulfilled. Ludwig indicates it's a common and acceptable phrase for expressing degrees of completion. It serves to qualify the verb or adjective it modifies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "completely or partly" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the degree to which something is fulfilled. Ludwig AI affirms its acceptability and provides numerous examples demonstrating its use across various domains, especially in science and news. The phrase functions as an adverbial modifier with a neutral register. Alternatives like "entirely or partially" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. When using this phrase, clarity in context is crucial to avoid redundancy and ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely or partially

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

fully or partially

Substitutes "completely" with "fully", emphasizing the totality aspect, while keeping "partially" for the partial aspect.

either entirely or partially

Adds "either" to the beginning, emphasizing the choice between the two options.

either fully or partially

Adds "either" to the beginning, emphasizing the choice between the two options, with different synonyms.

totally or partly

Replaces "completely" with "totally", stressing the absolute nature of the completion, while maintaining "partly".

wholly or partly

Uses "wholly" instead of "completely", providing a more archaic but still understandable alternative.

altogether or partly

Uses "altogether" as a substitute for "completely", suggesting a comprehensive effect alongside the partial aspect.

in full or in part

A more formal way of saying "completely or partly", often used in legal or official contexts.

in whole or in part

Mirrors "in full or in part", providing a formal and structurally distinct alternative.

to the fullest extent or partially

More descriptive and emphatic, highlighting the maximum possible extent versus a partial one.

FAQs

How can I use "completely or partly" in a sentence?

Use "completely or partly" to indicate that something is either fully done or only partially done. For example, "The project was "completely or partly" funded by donations".

What can I say instead of "completely or partly"?

You can use alternatives like "entirely or partially", "fully or partially", or "wholly or partly" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "completely or partly"?

In some contexts, using ""completely or partly"" can be redundant if the possibility of something being only partially true is already implied. Ensure the context warrants specifying both complete and partial states.

Which is more formal, "completely or partly" or "entirely or partially"?

"Entirely or partially" generally sounds more formal than ""completely or partly"" due to the use of "entirely" and "partially", which are often preferred in formal writing.