totally familiar

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally familiar" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong sense of recognition or comfort with something or someone. Example: "After years of working together, I feel totally familiar with the team's dynamics and workflow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

"It's all totally familiar.

The New York Times

People and situations seem totally familiar, as does the setting.

The New York Times

It seems totally familiar and fresh at the same time".

The New York Times

Bridgegate, as it may become widely known, is at once deeply bizarre and totally familiar.

The New Yorker

Their manners, their sensibility, their sense of right and wrong — it's all totally familiar to me".

The New Yorker

It feels strange yet totally familiar to be back on stage.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

By now, of course, 2010 feels like a completely familiar, totally used-up year.

The New York Times

The familiarity rating task followed this; subjects were asked to hit a number key as soon as possible to rate the target picture on a 7 point scale of familiarity (1 =  totally unacquainted, 7 =  completely familiar).

Plosone

Based in New York City, Baltimore and Sydney, Australia (somehow, through the power of the Internet), DLake is on a mission to take music and entertainment in a totally new but familiar direction.

Huffington Post

The men, he explained, were "engaged in their old familiar sports, totally erasing from their minds the all absorbing topic of the day".

The New York Times

In the present study, participants had only to judge the level of familiarity of 60 excerpts of melodies on a 4-point scale (from totally unfamiliar to extremely familiar).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "totally familiar" to emphasize a sense of ease and comfort with a subject, concept, or environment. It conveys a strong degree of understanding or recognition.

Common error

While "totally familiar" is acceptable, avoid overusing "totally" as an intensifier, as it can make your writing sound less formal and less precise. Consider alternative adverbs like "completely" or "thoroughly" for a more nuanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally familiar" functions as an adjectival phrase where "totally" modifies the adjective "familiar", intensifying its meaning. It describes a state of being completely acquainted or comfortable with something, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "totally familiar" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey a strong sense of recognition, understanding, or comfort with something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers examples across various contexts. While versatile, consider the level of formality required for your writing and choose alternative adverbs if needed. Its usage spans across news, science, and business contexts, making it a useful phrase in a variety of situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely recognizable

Emphasizes recognition rather than just familiarity, highlighting the ease of identifying something.

thoroughly acquainted

Indicates a deep and comprehensive knowledge or understanding, going beyond superficial familiarity.

perfectly conversant

Highlights the ability to discuss something in detail due to familiarity and knowledge.

intimately known

Suggests a very close and personal familiarity, often implying emotional connection.

deeply ingrained

Implies that the familiarity comes from something being firmly established or rooted in one's experience.

readily identifiable

Focuses on the ease with which something can be recognized or distinguished.

well-recognized

Highlights that something is widely known and acknowledged, implying a broad familiarity.

entirely understood

Focuses on complete comprehension and grasp of something.

plainly obvious

Suggests that something is easily apparent due to its familiarity.

second nature

Implies that something is so familiar it feels automatic or instinctive.

FAQs

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

You can use "totally familiar" to describe your knowledge or comfort level with something. For example: "After working on this project for months, the codebase is "totally familiar" to me."

What are some alternatives to "totally familiar"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "completely acquainted", "thoroughly familiar", or "intimately known" to express a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "totally familiar" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "totally familiar" might be perceived as slightly informal due to the intensifier "totally". In very formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "completely acquainted" or "thoroughly familiar".

What's the difference between "totally familiar" and "somewhat familiar"?

"Totally familiar" indicates a complete and comprehensive understanding or knowledge, while "somewhat familiar" suggests a partial or basic understanding. The former expresses a higher degree of comfort and expertise.