tell complete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tell complete" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an incomplete thought or a misphrasing, and it is not usable in written English without additional context or clarification. Example: "Please tell me the complete story."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Shows that tell complete stories in an episode, like NBC's "Law and Order," are not having nearly as much trouble.

The New York Times

They were born to banter, they think it's normal behaviour to tell complete strangers on the internet what they have had for their tea.

The Guardian - Sport

Produced by Jack Chertok, who also supervised the studio's "Our Gang" comedies, the "Crime Does Not Pay" films took around 20 minutes each to tell complete stories of transgression, capture and swift punishment.

The New York Times

These journals attempt to publish cutting-edge manuscripts that tell complete and in-depth stories.

Science Magazine

It's "Sesame Street -style Street -style, complete with highly showestive musicandcues.

Los Angeles Times

Writer Benjamin Filene sees this and Dixon's desire to tell complete stories, with the verses building on each other, as sharing elements of pop music.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

She also accused Gove of telling "complete lies about Turkey's accession to the EU".

The Guardian

Even my dad, who's super direct, and tells complete strangers that they're loud or wrong or too fat for that bolero jacket, said nothing.

The New Yorker

As the 2000s progressed, and sitcoms descended into easy snarkiness, however, "Futurama" began to look old-fashioned because it was still telling complete stories and delivering clear, comprehensible jokes.

The New York Times - Arts

Alas, OK! has misrepresented tragic events on its cover far more cynically before, so in some ways it is no surpise to find it telling complete whoppers about Houston's death.

The Guardian - Music

I've gone from avoiding eye contact to telling complete strangers what's going on with my cervix.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that when you aim to convey completeness, use the full phrase "tell the complete story", as this is the established idiom. Other variations may sound awkward or incomplete to native English speakers.

Common error

Avoid using "tell complete" as a standalone phrase. It typically needs to be part of a larger structure like "tell the complete story" or "tell a complete lie". Using it in isolation can lead to confusion or sound unidiomatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tell complete" functions as an incomplete verb phrase, typically requiring a direct object (e.g., story, truth) to be grammatically correct. This is supported by Ludwig, which indicates that the phrase needs additional context for clarity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "tell complete" is grammatically incorrect and requires additional context to be understood. While Ludwig shows that it appears in various sources, mainly News & Media and Science contexts, it is more common and advisable to use grammatically correct alternatives such as "tell the complete story" or "provide a complete account". These alternatives offer greater clarity and are more widely accepted in both formal and informal communication. It's crucial to avoid using "tell complete" in isolation to prevent confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide the full details

Replaces "tell" with "provide" and uses "full details" instead of "complete", emphasizing thoroughness.

give a complete account

Uses "give" instead of "tell", and "account" highlights a detailed narrative.

narrate the entire story

Replaces "tell" with "narrate", adding a sense of storytelling, and "entire" for emphasis.

recount everything

Shifts focus to recounting all aspects, replacing "complete" with "everything".

relate the whole truth

Uses "relate" instead of "tell", emphasizing truthfulness and completeness.

share the full narrative

Emphasizes sharing information, replacing "tell" with "share" and using "full narrative" for a more detailed account.

disclose all particulars

Focuses on disclosing specific details, replacing "tell" with "disclose" and using "particulars" for details.

reveal the complete picture

Highlights revealing the whole situation, replacing "tell" with "reveal" and using "complete picture" for overall understanding.

divulge the entire situation

Replaces "tell" with "divulge", adding a sense of revealing secret information, and uses "entire situation" for the whole context.

impart the complete information

Focuses on imparting knowledge, replacing "tell" with "impart" and using "complete information" for thoroughness.

FAQs

How can I use a more grammatically correct alternative to "tell complete"?

Instead of "tell complete", use phrases like "tell the complete story", "provide a complete account", or "give the full details". These options are clearer and more idiomatic.

What's a formal way to say "tell complete"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "provide a thorough explanation", "present a comprehensive report", or "give a detailed account" to convey a sense of completeness and accuracy.

Is "tell complete" grammatically correct?

No, "tell complete" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's usually part of a larger phrase such as "tell the complete story" or "tell a complete lie".

When is it appropriate to use "tell complete"?

While "tell complete" isn't grammatically standard, it might be used in informal conversation where the context makes the meaning clear. However, for professional writing or formal speech, it's best to use more explicit and grammatically correct alternatives like "tell the whole story" or "give all the details".