totally justified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally justified" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something is completely reasonable or warranted in a given context. Example: "Her decision to leave the company was totally justified given the circumstances surrounding the layoffs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"In our case, it was totally justified".

The New York Times

Dirty looks - yeah, totally justified frisking me.

The Guardian

"Carrying out a large-scale military operation, in my view, seems totally justified," he said.

The New York Times

The card was, in the words of Atlético captain Gabi, "both totally justified and also decisive".

The Guardian - Sport

Fitzgerald is totally justified in indicting the men mentioned in your column.

The New York Times

If they present themselves as wholesome characters and trade on that status then I think it's totally justified".

Independent

"We sent quite a few people into Iowa and New Hampshire; that was totally justified," Mr. Burstein said.

The New York Times

"The hysteria about Flint, Michigan, is totally justified," Kerpelman said, referencing findings that residents had been using water with alarmingly high levels of lead.

The Guardian

Over on the Daily Beast, columnist Kirsten Powers makes an excellent point that all the furor over Rush Limbaugh, while totally justified, has also been one-sided.

The Washington Post

"We didn't necessarily ask permission but it was public service and therefore totally justified". They would later borrow from Ford and McDonald's, too.

The Guardian

Granted, this is World War II, the one that even protesters in the Vietnam era could see as "the good war," totally justified and noble.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context: while "totally justified" is widely acceptable, more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "completely warranted" or "entirely reasonable".

Common error

Avoid using "totally justified" excessively in formal academic or business writing. While grammatically sound, it can sometimes sound less professional than alternatives such as "fully justified" or "entirely warranted".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally justified" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes something as being completely warranted or reasonable. The examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in assessing the validity of actions, decisions, and beliefs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "totally justified" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey that something is completely reasonable or warranted. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for various contexts, with a slightly more informal tone. While "totally justified" is frequently found in news and media, its use extends to formal business and scientific writing as well. For more formal situations, alternatives such as "completely justified" or "entirely reasonable" may be considered. Ultimately, "totally justified" remains a versatile and effective way to express strong agreement or approval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely justified

Emphasizes the completeness of the justification, similar to "totally justified" but with slightly different word choice.

entirely justified

Similar to "completely justified", this phrase highlights that the justification is whole and without reservation.

fully justified

Indicates that there is ample justification, suggesting that all aspects are covered.

absolutely justified

Stresses the certainty and lack of doubt in the justification.

perfectly reasonable

Focuses on the rationality and logic behind the action or decision.

entirely reasonable

Similar to "perfectly reasonable", highlighting the complete rationality.

wholly warranted

Implies that the action or decision was completely deserved or necessary.

completely warranted

Like "wholly warranted", this suggests that there was sufficient reason or authorization.

fully vindicated

Indicates that actions have been proven to be right or correct after initial doubt.

beyond reproach

Suggests that the action or decision cannot be criticized because it is undoubtedly justified.

FAQs

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

You can use "totally justified" to express that something is completely reasonable or warranted. For example, "Her decision to resign was "totally justified" given the toxic work environment."

What are some alternatives to "totally justified"?

Alternatives include "completely justified", "entirely reasonable", or "fully warranted". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "totally justified" or "completely justified"?

Both "totally justified" and "completely justified" are acceptable. "Totally" might be perceived as slightly more informal, but the difference is minimal. Choose the one that fits the overall tone of your writing.

In what situations might using "totally justified" be unsuitable?

In highly formal or academic writing, using a more sophisticated alternative such as "entirely justified" or "wholly warranted" might be more appropriate. However, "totally justified" is generally suitable for most contexts.