this is totally understandable

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "this is totally understandable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you understand what someone is telling you, or to accept a situation without any reservations. For example, "I understand that you need more time to complete the project. This is totally understandable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

This is totally understandable and should be respected.

Harvard Business Review

This is totally understandable as an instinct, but deplorable when that instinct kills children.

The New Yorker

This is totally understandable, of course; humor is subjective, much like curly hair or freckles.

The New York Times

This is totally understandable, but a hint of translucence in the flesh is not a bad thing.

Los Angeles Times

' What I found quite hard, but this is totally understandable, is that obviously it was a different nurse looking after her [surviving twin] every day.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

(P05) ' What I found quite hard, but this is totally understandable, is that obviously it was a different nurse looking after her [surviving twin] every day.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"There are people scared by the sharpness and the length of this rally, which is totally understandable.

The New York Times

Naturally everyone turns to see what's going on and there's this couple who look as though they might have made their own sandwiches for this 90-minute journey (which is totally understandable at today's prices).

Vice

If you're not ready for this kind of commitment yet, which is totally understandable, you can get a perfectly good Cuisinart starter knife to practice on for a fraction of the cost.

Huffington Post

If the trade unions know this, then their resistance to the strategic plan from August is totally understandable.

BBC

That response is totally understandable.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this is totally understandable" to acknowledge and validate someone's feelings, actions, or situation. It shows empathy and acceptance, fostering positive communication.

Common error

While effective, relying too heavily on "this is totally understandable" can make your communication sound insincere. Vary your language by using alternatives like "I understand" or "that makes sense" to maintain authenticity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this is totally understandable" functions as an acknowledgment and validation of someone's feelings, actions, or situation. As per Ludwig AI, it indicates comprehension and acceptance. Examples show its use in various contexts, from personal experiences to reactions to events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "this is totally understandable" is a versatile expression used to convey empathy, acceptance, and comprehension across a variety of situations. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and functions as an acknowledgment of someone's feelings or actions. While predominantly found in "News & Media", it also appears in "Science" and "Formal & Business" contexts, showcasing its broad applicability. Alternatives such as "that's completely understandable" or "I completely understand" offer slight variations in tone and formality. Overuse should be avoided to maintain sincerity. Employing this phrase effectively involves genuine empathy and can significantly enhance communication by validating others' experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's completely understandable

Changes "this is" to "that's" and "totally" to "completely", maintaining the same meaning.

it's perfectly understandable

Substitutes "totally" with "perfectly", offering a slightly more formal tone.

it is entirely comprehensible

Replaces "totally understandable" with "entirely comprehensible", resulting in a more formal and sophisticated expression.

i completely understand

Shifts from stating a situation is understandable to expressing personal understanding.

that makes perfect sense

Conveys understanding by stating that something is logical or reasonable.

i can appreciate that

Expresses understanding and empathy towards a situation or perspective.

that's perfectly reasonable

Focuses on the reasonableness of a situation, implying understanding.

i see where you're coming from

Indicates an understanding of someone's viewpoint or motivation.

i get it

A very informal and concise way of saying "I understand".

that's fair enough

Indicates acceptance of a situation, often implying a reluctant understanding.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "this is totally understandable"?

Use "this is totally understandable" when you want to express empathy and acknowledge someone's situation, feelings, or actions. It's suitable when you genuinely comprehend their perspective and want to validate their experience.

What can I say instead of "this is totally understandable"?

You can use alternatives like "that's completely understandable", "it's perfectly understandable", or "I completely understand" depending on the context.

Is "this is totally understandable" formal or informal?

"This is totally understandable" is generally considered to be neutral in formality. While suitable for most everyday conversations, more formal situations may warrant alternatives such as "it is entirely comprehensible".

How can I make "this is totally understandable" sound more sincere?

To sound more sincere, follow up with specific reasons why you understand. For example, instead of just saying "this is totally understandable", try "I understand why you're upset; that's a very frustrating situation".