totally negligent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally negligent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has shown a complete lack of care or attention in a situation, often in a legal or formal context. Example: "The court found the driver to be totally negligent in the accident, leading to significant damages."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"If it happened that way, he is totally negligent," Mr. Reiter said.

The New York Times

Representative Peter King, the New York Republican who is chairman of the House subcommittee on counterterrorism and intelligence, told ABC News that "the government would have been totally negligent if it did not take the actions taken".

The New York Times

"The officer was completely out of line and they are totally negligent".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But we're all negligent.

The New York Times - Sports

Under this proposal, if you shoot somebody and it results in a fatality, unless it's totally accidental, if you are negligent in any way, it will be a Class C felony.

The New York Times

By means of this explanation of vote, I want to express my anger and very deep disappointment at the fact that the European Patent Office can deal with a question about life itself in such a totally and indefensibly careless and negligent way.

EU Parlament

West Ham were negligent in all areas.

BBC

Her family brought a civil case and in August last year the judge ruled that Abir's death was "totally unjustifiable" and that border guards had either been negligent or had disobeyed instructions.

The Guardian

Tepco was also negligent.

The New York Times

It may be negligent.

The New York Times

Were they really grossly negligent?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "totally negligent", ensure that the context clearly supports the severity of the claim. This phrase implies a complete absence of care or responsibility, so it should be reserved for situations where the negligence is extreme.

Common error

Avoid using "totally negligent" when the situation involves a minor oversight or a simple mistake. This phrase is best reserved for cases where the lack of care is egregious and has significant consequences. Overusing it can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally negligent" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe a state of extreme carelessness or failure to fulfill a duty of care. The presence of both the adjective "totally" and "negligent" reinforces the gravity of the situation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "totally negligent" is an adjective phrase used to describe a situation where there is an extreme lack of care or responsibility. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct, although rare. Usage is most commonly found in news and media sources. When employing this phrase, ensure the context warrants such a strong assertion. Alternatives include "completely irresponsible" or "utterly careless". Due to its strong connotations, reserve "totally negligent" for situations where the breach of care is severe and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely irresponsible

Replaces "negligent" with "irresponsible" emphasizing a lack of responsibility rather than a failure to exercise care.

utterly careless

Substitutes "negligent" with "careless", highlighting the lack of attention or concern.

grossly inattentive

Replaces "negligent" with "inattentive", specifying a lack of attention as the primary fault.

extremely remiss

Substitutes "negligent" with "remiss", which implies a failure to fulfill a duty or responsibility.

wholly derelict in duty

This phrase replaces "totally negligent" with a more formal expression indicating a complete failure to perform one's duties.

patently neglectful

Replaces "negligent" with "neglectful", suggesting a clear and obvious failure to care for something or someone.

absolutely reckless

Emphasizes the risk-taking aspect of negligence, implying a disregard for potential consequences.

thoroughly lax

Replaces "negligent" with "lax", indicating a lack of strictness or care.

entirely unmindful

Highlights a lack of awareness or consideration, suggesting a failure to recognize potential hazards.

criminally negligent

Indicates that the negligence is so severe that it could be subject to criminal charges.

FAQs

How is "totally negligent" used in legal contexts?

In legal settings, "totally negligent" describes a severe degree of carelessness where a person or entity fails to exercise even minimal care, leading to harm or damage. It often implies a breach of duty and can have significant legal ramifications.

What are some alternatives to "totally negligent"?

You can use alternatives like "completely irresponsible", "utterly careless", or "grossly inattentive" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "negligent" and "totally negligent"?

"Negligent" indicates a failure to exercise reasonable care, while "totally negligent" suggests an extreme and complete lack of care. The latter implies a much higher degree of fault and potential culpability.

What kind of situations warrant the use of the phrase "totally negligent"?

The phrase "totally negligent" is appropriate when describing situations involving severe breaches of duty of care that result in significant harm, damage, or loss, indicating an almost complete disregard for safety and responsibility.