in complete silence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in complete silence" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
Example: As the judge entered the courtroom, the entire room fell into complete silence.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But he could not suffer the defeat in complete silence.

The New Yorker

The Big Bang actually erupted in complete silence.

The New York Times - Science

Other practices have been conducted in complete silence.

The New York Times - Magazine

Slowly and in complete silence, he came into the middle of the room.

The New Yorker

Without sex, most of Prince's work would be a John Cage-like experiment in complete silence.

The New York Times - Books

All this is done in complete silence, except when a piece is sacrificed.

The New Yorker

Suddenly, she dropped low and started running at warp speed, in complete silence.

The New York Times - Travel

"We switched off the engines and sat there, in complete silence, in between these glistening mirrors".

The Guardian

In complete silence, the lights went out under the big top.

The New York Times

There's a point where I'm rolling around on the ground, in complete silence, playing with cat toys.

The New York Times - Arts

After making all sorts of silly jokes about the curious name of this dish, we ate in complete silence.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene, consider the impact of "in complete silence" on the overall atmosphere. It can heighten tension or evoke a sense of peace depending on the context.

Common error

Avoid using "in complete silence" when a more nuanced description of quietness is needed. Sometimes, "near silence" or "hushed tones" may be more appropriate to avoid overly dramatic or absolute implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in complete silence" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to describe the manner in which an action is performed or a state exists. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in complete silence" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression, as validated by Ludwig AI. Functioning as an adverbial phrase, it serves to underscore the total absence of sound, often to enhance atmosphere or emphasize specific details. While versatile across various contexts, it maintains a neutral register, its appropriateness determined more by the situation than the formality of the source. Alternatives like "in total silence" or "utterly silent" offer subtle variations, but "in complete silence" remains a potent and descriptive choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in total silence

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

in absolute silence

Uses "absolute" instead of "complete" to highlight the absence of any sound.

in utter silence

Substitutes "complete" with "utter", intensifying the sense of silence.

in perfect silence

Replaces "complete" with "perfect", suggesting an ideal or undisturbed silence.

with total silence

Changes the prepositional phrase to start with "with", altering the sentence structure slightly.

in profound silence

Uses "profound" instead of "complete" to convey a more significant or meaningful silence.

in deep silence

Replaces "complete" with "deep", creating a sense of profound quiet.

in hushed silence

Adds "hushed" to emphasize the quiet and subdued nature of the silence.

without a sound

Offers a more concise alternative, focusing on the absence of any sound.

soundlessly

Changes the phrase to an adverb, describing an action performed without sound.

FAQs

How can I use "in complete silence" in a sentence?

You can use "in complete silence" to describe an environment devoid of sound, such as "The library was "in complete silence"" or to describe an action done without any noise, such as "They moved "in complete silence" to avoid detection".

What are some alternatives to "in complete silence"?

Some alternatives include "in total silence", "in utter silence", or simply "soundlessly", depending on the context you wish to convey.

Is it redundant to say "in complete silence"?

While silence inherently implies the absence of sound, "in complete silence" emphasizes the totality of the quiet, making it a useful phrase when you want to stress the absolute lack of noise. However, consider if simpler alternatives like "quietly" or "silently" would suffice.

How does "in complete silence" differ from "in quiet"?

"In quiet" suggests a state of relative calm and reduced noise, while ""in complete silence"" indicates a total absence of sound. The former implies a degree of noise is still present, while the latter does not.