entirely familiar

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'entirely familiar' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adverb phrase which is used to describe how familiar one is with something. For example, "I was entirely familiar with the regulations for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That, of course, is an entirely familiar Democratic trope.

The New Yorker

I confess I wasn't entirely familiar with that version.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

There was one not too far away, but he wasn't entirely familiar with the neighborhood.

The New York Times

It was familiar, entirely familiar, much more so than if I'd been touching a boy for the first time.

The New Yorker

The straw hats, the braces, the interchangeable beards, the 18th-century horse-drawn buggies were all entirely familiar.

Independent

The kind of reporting that you did wasn't an entirely familiar genre at the time, was it?

The New Yorker

Can you remember the moment you knew that a place once so alien had become entirely familiar?

The Guardian

We had to take a much longer patchwork of back roads that were not entirely familiar to the men driving us.

The New York Times

Riall takes an iconoclastic line and assumes that the reader is entirely familiar with the icon she is targeting and the world that worshipped him.

The New Yorker

This is because beneath the surface of a distant and often distinctly strange culture Murasaki's characters of a thousand years ago express emotions that remain entirely familiar.

The New Yorker

Silverstein has read the first few chapters of Bushnell's book, but he admits that he is as yet not entirely familiar with the customs of Janey Wilcox country.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "entirely familiar" to emphasize a strong sense of recognition or understanding, especially when contrasting it with something new or unexpected. For instance, "Despite the innovative approach, the underlying principles were "entirely familiar".

Common error

Avoid using "entirely familiar" in situations where a simpler term like "familiar" would suffice. Overusing intensifiers can dilute the impact of your writing. Ask yourself if the 'entirely' adds significant emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "entirely familiar" functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective "familiar". It describes the degree to which something is known or recognized. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase follows standard grammar rules and is commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "entirely familiar" serves as an effective adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective "familiar" to convey a complete and thorough understanding or recognition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, it also appears in Science and Encyclopedias. For nuanced expression, alternatives like "wholly familiar" or "perfectly familiar" can be used. When employing "entirely familiar", ensure it adds meaningful emphasis, avoiding overuse in simple contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wholly familiar

Replaces "entirely" with "wholly", emphasizing completeness of familiarity.

totally familiar

Substitutes "entirely" with "totally", indicating a complete and absolute sense of familiarity.

fully familiar

Replaces "entirely" with "fully", suggesting complete knowledge or understanding.

perfectly familiar

Replaces "entirely" with "perfectly" to suggest there are no flaws in one's familiarity.

thoroughly familiar

Replaces "entirely" with "thoroughly", emphasizing a detailed and comprehensive familiarity.

intimately acquainted

Shifts from familiarity to a closer, more personal level of acquaintance.

well versed

Replaces "familiar" emphasizing deep knowledge or expertise.

well acquainted

Suggests a good level of knowledge and experience with something.

completely conversant

Focuses on being able to discuss something knowledgeably.

deeply knowledgeable

Emphasizes the extensive and profound understanding of a subject.

FAQs

How can I use "entirely familiar" in a sentence?

You can use "entirely familiar" to describe something that is well-known or easily recognized. For example, "The plot of the movie was "entirely familiar", following a classic storyline."

What are some alternatives to "entirely familiar"?

Some alternatives include "wholly familiar", "totally familiar", or "perfectly familiar" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "familiar" and "entirely familiar"?

"Familiar" suggests a general awareness, while "entirely familiar" emphasizes a complete and thorough understanding or recognition. The addition of "entirely" intensifies the degree of familiarity.

When is it appropriate to use "entirely familiar" instead of just "familiar"?

Use "entirely familiar" when you want to stress that something is not just somewhat known, but completely and thoroughly recognized or understood. It adds emphasis and can highlight a sense of comfort or predictability.