not completely

USAGE SUMMARY

"not completely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate something that is only partially true or correct. For example: "I'm not completely sure what he meant by that."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not completely.

The New York Times

"We're not completely happy.

The New York Times

Well, not completely.

The New York Times - Sports

"Oh, not completely".

The New Yorker

But not completely.

The New York Times - Sports

But not completely so.

The Economist

Not completely, anyway.

The New York Times - Arts

Well, no — not completely.

The New York Times

Mind you, not completely.

The New York Times

But not completely opaque.

The Economist

At least not completely.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not completely" to introduce a nuanced perspective, acknowledging a degree of truth or effectiveness while highlighting its limitations.

Common error

Avoid using "not completely" when a simple "not" suffices. Overusing it can make your writing sound hesitant or unnecessarily verbose when a direct negation is more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not completely" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate a degree of incompleteness or partiality. Ludwig examples show its versatility in qualifying statements across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

15%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not completely" serves as a versatile adverbial modifier used to express a degree of incompleteness or partiality. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable in various contexts, including news, academia, and general conversation. While alternatives like "partially" or "to some extent" exist, "not completely" offers a nuanced way to qualify statements without outright negation. Be mindful of overuse, ensuring it adds value to your writing by providing necessary qualifications rather than unnecessary wordiness. The phrase is frequently found in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, solidifying its place in standard English usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not entirely

Emphasizes that something is partially, but "not entirely", the case.

not fully

Highlights the idea that something is "lacking completeness".

not wholly

Indicates that something is "not entirely or completely" true.

partially

Directly indicates that something is only in part, "but not fully", true or effective.

not altogether

Suggests that something is "not fully or entirely" the case.

in part

Indicates that only a portion or aspect of something is being referred to, "not the whole".

to some extent

Indicates a certain degree or measure, "but not absolute".

not absolutely

Suggests that something is "not without exception" or qualification.

not quite

Expresses that something is "close but not exactly" as described.

somewhat

Implies a moderate degree or extent, "but not entirely".

FAQs

How can I use "not completely" in a sentence?

Use "not completely" to express that something is partially true or effective, but has limitations. For example, "The data is "not completely" accurate, so further analysis is needed."

What are some alternatives to "not completely"?

You can use alternatives such as "not entirely", "partially", or "to some extent", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "not completely" or "partially"?

Both "not completely" and "partially" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Partially" directly indicates a part of something, while "not completely" implies a lack of full attainment. Choose the one that better fits the context.

When should I avoid using "not completely"?

Avoid using "not completely" when a simple negation is more appropriate. Overusing it can weaken your writing. For instance, instead of saying "I am "not completely" happy", you might simply say "I am not happy" if you want to express straightforward dissatisfaction.