totally awful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally awful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong negative opinion about something, indicating that it is extremely bad or unpleasant. Example: "The movie we watched last night was totally awful; I couldn't wait for it to end."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

It's totally awful," says the voice.

The Guardian - Arts

"I'm wearing all these totally awful '90s clothes.

The New York Times - Magazine

She can't be totally awful, after all, or your son wouldn't have gone out with her even for a few months.

Independent

Totally awful, however, were shrimp that were mealy with overcooking and served in an unpleasant mysterious sauce that wasn't the garlic we had ordered.

The New York Times

A frequently spellbinding recitation of the career of a totally awful politician, crook, adulterer and murderer who was no good as a general either.

The New York Times - Books

As My Mad Fat Diary is about to begin its third and final series, The Independent spoke to Rooney to ask "what she's learned" over the last three years, and finds out about sex scenes and why being a teenager is so totally awful.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The skycaps' Broadway-styled lip sync of the Pointer Sisters' late-disco classic that gives the film its name is thrillingly awful and totally awesome.

Los Angeles Times

All awful.

Independent

They are totally terrified, in awful conditions, so it will allow the humanitarian aid to reach these people," Mr Araud said.

BBC

"These incidents are deplorable, awful and totally wrong," responds the conservative blogger Carol Platt Liebau at Town Hall.

The New York Times

The Redskins assumed a balanced approach and moved the ball consistently all afternoon, scoring only 20 points in part because of two Grossman interceptions (neither was awful or totally excusable).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "totally awful" in writing, ensure it aligns with the overall tone and style of your piece. Overuse can diminish its impact, so vary your language for expressing negative opinions.

Common error

Avoid relying on "totally awful" as your only way to describe something negative. This can make your writing monotonous. Instead, diversify your vocabulary by using synonyms or providing specific details about what makes something awful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally awful" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to express a strong negative assessment. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct. The adverb "totally" intensifies the adjective "awful", amplifying the degree of negativity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "totally awful" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a strong negative opinion. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides numerous real-world examples primarily from news and media sources. While versatile, remember that "totally awful" might not always be suitable for formal or professional contexts, where more nuanced or sophisticated language may be preferred. To avoid overuse, consider using synonyms like "completely terrible" or "utterly dreadful" to diversify your writing and maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely terrible

Emphasizes the degree of badness, focusing on the overall quality.

utterly dreadful

Highlights the causing of fear or suffering, implying a strong negative impact.

absolutely atrocious

Stresses a shocking or wicked nature, adding a moral dimension to the negativity.

thoroughly unpleasant

Focuses on the displeasing or disagreeable aspects of something.

entirely unsatisfactory

Highlights the failure to meet expectations or needs.

plain bad

Simplifies the sentiment to its basic form, conveying a lack of quality or desirability.

downright lousy

Uses informal language to express a feeling of contempt or disgust.

remarkably poor

Highlights the unexpectedly low quality or performance.

exceptionally crummy

Uses colloquial language to express a feeling of low quality or worth.

woefully inadequate

Emphasizes the deficiency or insufficiency of something.

FAQs

How can I use "totally awful" in a sentence?

You can use "totally awful" to describe something extremely bad or unpleasant. For example: "The food at that restaurant was "totally awful"" or "The weather today is "totally awful"."

What phrases can I use instead of "totally awful"?

You can use alternatives like "completely terrible", "utterly dreadful", or "absolutely atrocious" depending on the context.

Is "totally awful" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "totally awful" leans towards informal language. In formal contexts, consider alternatives like "completely unsatisfactory" or "entirely inadequate".

What's the difference between "totally awful" and "really awful"?

"Totally awful" implies a higher degree of negativity compared to "really awful". "Totally" suggests a complete or absolute awfulness, while "really" indicates a significant degree of awfulness but not necessarily absolute.