pretty much completely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty much completely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is almost entirely true or accurate, but with a slight degree of informality. Example: "The project is pretty much completely finished; we just need to add a few final touches."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

This was unfair, pretty much completely.

The Guardian - Books

"The Google business is built on a wired model, and as the world moves to a pretty much completely wireless model over time, it's really going to be important for Google to understand everything about the mobile consumer".

The New York Times - Tech

Philip Hammond, the British foreign secretary, said during a visit to Beijing: "I think I can say that Britain and China are pretty much completely aligned on North Korean nuclear.

The Guardian

Throughout the middle of the last century, as literature and the life that it makes possible were going from mostly right, in Ozick's view, to pretty much completely wrong, the valiant Professor Trilling "eschewed softness" and "condemned fashionable self-consciousness and self-pity".

The New York Times - Books

"That is pretty much completely disregarded in traditional marketing research".

Forbes

For SMBs, it was pretty much completely out of scope.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

That film was hyperbolic, garishly theatrical and rigorously faithful to the historical record — completely unbelievable and pretty much all true.

The New York Times

To be fully employed as a writer on a show that doesn't completely suck is pretty much all I want right now (besides a Capuchin monkey-they are adorable).

Huffington Post

"Pretty much all of the bikes we work on have to be completely taken apart, cleaned and rebuilt," said Rommel Bishop, 30, who runs the group's education program.

The New York Times

Pretty much all of August.

The New York Times - Sports

" That' s pretty much all he likes.

BMC Pediatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty much completely" to convey near-total completeness in a casual or informal context. It's suitable when absolute precision isn't necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty much completely" in formal writing or professional reports. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives such as "almost entirely" or "virtually completely" to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty much completely" functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the degree to which something is complete. It indicates a state of near-total completion, suggesting only minor aspects might be lacking.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

18%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Pretty much completely" is a common adverbial phrase used to express that something is nearly or virtually complete. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently found in news and media, though its informal tone makes it less appropriate for formal or scientific writing. Consider alternatives like "almost entirely" or "virtually completely" in professional contexts. While the phrase is accepted in common usage, selecting more precise language can enhance clarity and formality depending on the writing scenario.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost entirely

More formal alternative emphasizing the extent of completeness.

virtually completely

Indicates a state that is functionally complete, with negligible exceptions.

nearly completely

Highlights the closeness to a state of completeness.

practically completely

Suggests completeness in a practical sense, despite possible theoretical exceptions.

essentially completely

Emphasizes the fundamental completeness of something.

almost perfectly

Focuses on the attainment of near-perfect state.

to all intents and purposes completely

A more verbose and formal way of stating that something is complete in every practical sense.

in effect completely

Highlights that something is completely so in its effect or result.

for all practical purposes completely

Similar to "practically completely", emphasizing real-world implications.

substantially completely

Indicates a large degree of completeness, though perhaps not absolute.

FAQs

What does "pretty much completely" mean?

The phrase "pretty much completely" means almost entirely or virtually completely. It indicates that something is very close to being complete, but there might be slight exceptions or minor details remaining.

How can I use "pretty much completely" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty much completely" to describe the state of something. For instance, "The project is "pretty much completely" finished; we just need to add a few final touches."

What are some alternatives to "pretty much completely"?

Alternatives include "almost entirely", "virtually completely", or "nearly completely". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it okay to use "pretty much completely" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "pretty much completely" is generally considered informal. For formal writing, it's better to use alternatives like "almost entirely" or "virtually completely" to maintain a professional tone.