thorough and comprehensive

USAGE SUMMARY

"thorough and comprehensive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize something as being done in a detailed and thorough manner. For example, "The student conducted a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Bollinger called the report "thorough and comprehensive" and said that he endorsed its findings.

The New York Times

We have acted decisively, launching our own thorough and comprehensive investigation and referring the matter to the Metropolitan police".

The Guardian - Business

It is the most thorough and comprehensive set of changes to adult social care legislation since 1948.

The Guardian

Our thorough and comprehensive proposals have been developed by a Fiscal Commission, containing two nobel prize winners.

The Guardian

Mr. Crist said the allegations were disturbing but expressed confidence that the department would "conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation".

The New York Times

Despite Obama's promises of a "thorough and comprehensive" review of his team's contacts with the governor, today's report was expected to leave some questions unanswered.

The Guardian

David Behan, chief executive of the CQC, said: "There is much for all the organisations involved with Winterbourne View to consider in Margaret Flynn's thorough and comprehensive report.

The Guardian

"The family has been deeply engaged in a thorough and comprehensive analysis of this, and to this day we haven't yet found an accepted answer".

The New York Times

conducted as thorough and comprehensive investigation as possible considering Congress and Mr. Foley denied us access to critical data," Mr. Bailey said in a statement.

The New York Times

Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who is on the panel, said: "The real acid test will be how thorough and comprehensive the Fay report is.

The New York Times

Establishing an inspection process that is complete, thorough and comprehensive can be done, but it will require resources and it will require our determination.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This phrase works best when you're describing an investigation, analysis, or review process.

Common error

Avoid using "thorough and comprehensive" to describe tasks that are inherently simple or lack complexity. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thorough and comprehensive" functions as a compound adjective, modifying nouns to indicate the extent and quality of something. It's frequently used to describe investigations, reviews, or analyses, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thorough and comprehensive" is a frequently used adjective phrase indicating completeness and attention to detail. It is grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig, and appears most often in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the actual depth of the topic being described to avoid sounding hyperbolic. Alternatives such as ""exhaustive and complete"" or ""in-depth and detailed"" can offer nuanced emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exhaustive and complete

Focuses more intensely on the 'completeness' and 'exhaustiveness' aspect compared to the original phrase.

in-depth and detailed

Highlights the level of detail and depth of analysis.

complete and exhaustive

Emphasizes totality and lack of omissions.

meticulous and thorough

Shifts the focus to precision and carefulness.

wide-ranging and complete

Highlights the breadth of the analysis or coverage.

all-inclusive and thorough

Stresses that everything is included without exception.

full and complete

A more concise way of expressing completeness.

detailed and exhaustive

Focuses on the high level of detail and the comprehensive nature.

extensive and detailed

Highlights the wide extent and level of detail involved.

careful and complete

Focuses on the accuracy and completeness of the subject.

FAQs

How can I use "thorough and comprehensive" in a sentence?

You can use "thorough and comprehensive" to describe an investigation, analysis, or review. For example, "The audit team conducted a "thorough and comprehensive" review of the financial records."

What are some alternatives to "thorough and comprehensive"?

You can use alternatives such as "exhaustive and complete", "in-depth and detailed", or "complete and exhaustive" depending on the specific context.

Is "thorough and comprehensive" redundant?

While both words imply completeness, "thorough" suggests meticulousness and detail, while "comprehensive" suggests a wide scope. Using them together emphasizes both aspects, making the phrase stronger.

When is it appropriate to use "thorough and comprehensive"?

It's appropriate when describing processes or analyses that involve a high degree of detail, careful examination, and broad coverage, such as a "thorough and comprehensive" investigation or a detailed review of literature.