for complete strangers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for complete strangers" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to individuals who are unknown or unfamiliar to you, often in contexts discussing interactions or behaviors involving those individuals. Example: "It's surprising how kind people can be for complete strangers in times of need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

It is not uncommon for complete strangers to stage interventions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But we do things for complete strangers that are quite extreme.

The Guardian

"People are really putting their best foot forward, for complete strangers," he said.

The New York Times

Normally reticent people are transformed into their extroverted alter-ego's, where posing for photographs for complete strangers becomes a pre-requisite.

Independent

But a movie about people who cry fake tears for money, and for complete strangers, would be ill advised to indulge in displays of overwrought emotion.

The New York Times

Paying treatment costs for complete strangers would jeopardize the health-care provider's profit-and-loss statements, resulting in financial losses and precipitating shareholder revolts that could help engender disbelief in our economic system and the American Way.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

You can still use your contacts to recruit, rather than asking for applications from complete strangers.

WikiHow

As societies get larger, there are more opportunities to break bad steal from complete strangers, for example—and fewer and fewer direct social consequences for doing so.

Science Magazine

What struck me about the incident was that it seemed normal, calm and extremely united for a bus of complete strangers.

The Guardian - Opinion

For a start, there's her work — as a party organizer who throws opens her big Baltimore house for the intimate celebrations of complete strangers.

The New Yorker

This was jarring for me with complete strangers, but I quickly realized it was essential for success.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "for complete strangers", ensure that the context clearly indicates an action or feeling directed towards people with whom there is no prior relationship. This clarifies the scope of the action or emotion being described.

Common error

Ensure the context is clear to avoid implying obligation or expectation towards "complete strangers" if that is not the intent. Instead, focus on actions or emotions initiated without any prior connection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for complete strangers" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate the recipient or target of an action, emotion, or consideration. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science & Research

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for complete strangers" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that an action, emotion, or consideration is directed towards individuals with whom there is no prior relationship. Ludwig AI shows that it's found across various contexts, with a slightly higher prevalence in News & Media sources. While the frequency is rare, it is used consistently to emphasize impartiality or altruism. Alternatives such as "for total strangers" or "for unfamiliar people" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for total strangers

Replaces "complete" with "total", emphasizing the absolute lack of acquaintance.

towards complete strangers

Changes the preposition, shifting the emphasis slightly but maintaining the core meaning.

to utter strangers

Replaces "complete" with "utter", emphasizing the complete lack of acquaintance.

for unknown individuals

Substitutes "strangers" with a more formal term, "individuals", conveying a similar meaning in a slightly different register.

for unfamiliar people

Uses "unfamiliar" instead of "complete", focusing on the lack of familiarity.

to perfect strangers

Substitutes "complete" with "perfect" to emphasize the complete and utter lack of any connection or familiarity.

for absolute strangers

Emphasizes the absence of familiarity through the use of "absolute."

for people you don't know

Rephrases the idea using a more explicit and descriptive approach.

for people never met

Describes people who have never had previous contact.

to total unknowns

Uses "unknowns" to highlight the unidentified nature of the individuals involved.

FAQs

What does "for complete strangers" mean?

The phrase "for complete strangers" refers to actions, feelings, or considerations directed towards individuals with whom one has no prior acquaintance or relationship.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "for complete strangers"?

It's appropriate to use "for complete strangers" when describing acts of kindness, altruism, or any behavior that extends to people unknown to the actor. It helps emphasize the lack of a pre-existing relationship.

Are there alternatives to the phrase "for complete strangers"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "for total strangers", "for unknown individuals", or "for unfamiliar people" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "for complete strangers"?

Yes, the phrase "for complete strangers" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe actions or attitudes directed toward people one does not know.