completely ordinary

USAGE SUMMARY

"completely ordinary" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is entirely normal or unremarkable. For example, "The weather today is completely ordinary." Alternative expressions include "totally normal," "entirely usual," and "perfectly average."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

That's completely ordinary".

The Guardian

Her hair was brown, a completely ordinary brown.

The Guardian - Books

As a rule, he writes about completely ordinary people, middle- and working-class, from drab places.

The New Yorker

above ten per cent, which is a completely ordinary performance by U.S. standards.

The New Yorker

Another attraction is the completely ordinary house here where Mr. Cage stayed.

The New York Times

Bouncing around the living room of their home in the West Midlands, Jack looks completely ordinary.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Write your diary in a completely ordinary-looking school notebook (you might even put school notes on the first few pages) and keep it with other school stuff.

WikiHow

But ever-inventive Brussels is coming up with a solution of sorts through the emergence of "Euro-speak"—a form of dead, bureaucratic English.The joy of phrases like "qualified majority voting", "the community method" and "the commission's sole right of initiative" is that they are completely meaningless to all ordinary Europeans whether in translation or in the original.

The Economist

Stu, as the man who most completely embodies ordinary male confusion, is the center of the two films, and Helms is at his frenzied best when he tries to exert logic in the most chaotic situations, and then, giving up, stiffens his back, whirls his arms, and shrieks in frustration.

The New Yorker

They might feel, for instance, that if polygamy was good enough for Hebrew patriarchs, it was good enough for them; more commonly, they rejected military service, or withdrew completely from ordinary society; and often, they denied the rightness of infant baptism, since it was more or less impossible to prove from the biblical text.

The Guardian - Books

The reason, he explains, is that universal interactivity (systema universalis substantiarum commercium, 1 415.40) reveals the origin of the connection governing things, an origin that completely escapes ordinary physical influence because this theory looks at substances in isolation (1 416)—ignoring what happens among them, the dynamic "between".

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "completely ordinary" to downplay expectations or to emphasize the normalcy of something, especially when contrasting it with something extraordinary. It helps to create a sense of realism or relatability.

Common error

Avoid using "completely ordinary" in contexts where simpler words like "normal" or "typical" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose or even sarcastic, especially if the context doesn't warrant such emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely ordinary" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It serves to emphasize the standard, unremarkable nature of the noun it describes. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "completely ordinary" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjective phrase that describes something as being entirely normal and unremarkable. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media sources, with a neutral register making it suitable for various contexts. While "completely ordinary" is versatile, be mindful of potential overuse. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "entirely commonplace", "perfectly typical", or "utterly unremarkable" to achieve subtle nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely commonplace

Substitutes "completely" with "entirely" and "ordinary" with "commonplace", emphasizing the lack of uniqueness.

perfectly typical

Replaces "ordinary" with "typical", suggesting conformity to a standard or norm.

utterly unremarkable

Uses "utterly" to intensify the lack of distinction, replacing "ordinary" with "unremarkable".

absolutely average

Emphasizes the mediocrity and lack of exceptional qualities.

totally standard

Implies adherence to a widely accepted norm or expectation.

wholly conventional

Highlights conformity to established customs and practices.

plain vanilla

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the blandness and lack of embellishment.

nothing special

A direct and simple way to express the absence of unique or noteworthy qualities.

run-of-the-mill

Suggests ordinariness due to being part of a common production process or group.

as expected

Implies that something is not surprising or unusual, aligning with expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "completely ordinary" in a sentence?

You can use "completely ordinary" to describe something that is entirely normal or unremarkable. For instance, "His day was "completely ordinary", nothing exciting happened".

What are some alternatives to "completely ordinary"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "entirely commonplace", "perfectly typical", or "utterly unremarkable", each carrying subtle differences in emphasis.

Is "completely ordinary" formal or informal?

"Completely ordinary" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although simpler alternatives like "normal" might be preferred in very casual conversation.

What's the difference between "completely ordinary" and "perfectly normal"?

While both phrases indicate something is not out of the ordinary, "completely ordinary" might subtly suggest a lack of any distinguishing features, whereas "perfectly normal" implies adherence to an expected standard.