really honest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "really honest" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the degree of honesty someone is expressing or to describe a person's character as being very truthful. Example: "I appreciate your feedback; it was really honest and helped me see things from a different perspective."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Be really honest".

The New Yorker

She's really honest.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm just being really honest, sir".

The Guardian - Film

"She was really honest and courageous".

The Guardian

He's been really positive … really honest.

The Guardian - Sport

And, you know, kids are really honest".

The New York Times

There is something really honest about them.

The Guardian - Arts

I feel gutted as a person, to be really honest.

The New York Times

Let us be really honest, and not just slick.

The New Yorker

It's O.K. — really, honest — if she needs time to think.

The New Yorker

I just had to be really honest about things.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "truly honest" or "genuinely honest".

Common error

Avoid using "really honest" excessively in professional or academic writing, as it might come across as less sophisticated. Opt for alternatives like "utterly honest" or "completely honest" to maintain a formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "really honest" functions as an intensifier combined with an adjective. It serves to strengthen the adjective "honest", indicating a high degree of truthfulness or sincerity. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is commonly used to add emphasis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "really honest" is a common and grammatically sound way to emphasize truthfulness and sincerity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives like "truly honest" or "genuinely honest" in professional settings. To enhance clarity and impact, be mindful of overusing the phrase and explore diverse synonyms such as "utterly honest" or "completely honest" to maintain a sophisticated writing style. Remember, the goal is to underscore sincerity effectively without sounding repetitive or informal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

truly honest

Emphasizes honesty with a slightly more formal tone.

genuinely honest

Highlights the authenticity and sincerity of the honesty.

utterly honest

Suggests a complete and unreserved honesty.

completely honest

Indicates a full and absolute honesty without any reservations.

absolutely truthful

Replaces "honest" with "truthful", emphasizing adherence to facts.

sincerely honest

Adds a layer of sincerity and earnestness to the honesty.

frankly speaking

Introduces a statement with directness and candor.

in all honesty

Used as an introductory phrase to emphasize the truthfulness of a statement.

to be perfectly frank

Highlights the candid and straightforward nature of the statement.

very honest

Simple substitution using a common synonym; lacks the emphasis of "really".

FAQs

What does "really honest" mean?

The phrase "really honest" emphasizes the sincerity and truthfulness of a statement or a person. It indicates a high degree of candor and genuine expression.

When should I use "really honest" in my writing?

Use "really honest" when you want to underscore the genuine and sincere nature of a statement or someone's character. It is suitable for scenarios where emphasizing truthfulness is essential.

What can I say instead of "really honest"?

You can use alternatives like "truly honest", "genuinely honest", or "completely honest" depending on the context.

Is "really honest" formal or informal?

The phrase "really honest" is generally considered neutral to informal. For more formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "utterly honest" or "in all honesty".