totally sure that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally sure that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing complete confidence or certainty about something. Example: "I am totally sure that we will meet the deadline for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

This recurring motif of division and separation, though, is not laboured; it's woven into the book's structure, but I'm not even totally sure that it's intentional.

The Guardian - Books

Back then Lonely Island clearly wasn't yet comfortable enough truly to poke fun, or maybe wasn't totally sure that it was allowed to.

The New York Times

Our website will become live again once all self-published ebooks have been removed and we are totally sure that there are no offending titles available".

The Guardian - Business

WH Smith said the website will become live again once all self-published ebooks have been removed and "we are totally sure that there are no offending titles available".

Independent

So I'll try to explain, even though I'm not totally sure that I understand, and I won't say that it's because of fear, because what I felt all around me during the last war wasn't fear but a general sense of hopelessness and despair.

The New Yorker

Robert's problem is that he's bought into the idea of Circles without being totally sure that they're something more than Twitter Lists.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

As for the Johnsons' theory that Pea ran off to find friends, Causer couldn't be totally sure if that was the case, but said that the theory "seems reasonable".

Huffington Post

I'm not totally sure what that means (if it's supposed to mean anything), but I'm going to optimistically hope it means that next season is going to be batshit crazy.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The much welcomed part of the inquiry was how quickly and apparently fully (though we can't be totally sure of that) all the evidence - oral, written, on email - was put on the internet for all to see.

The Guardian

Are we totally sure about that?

Huffington Post

I'm not totally sure if that was the case.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "totally sure that" to convey complete confidence, but be mindful of the context. In formal settings, consider more precise alternatives like "completely certain" or "absolutely positive".

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "totally sure that" in formal writing. It can sometimes come across as too casual. Opt for alternatives like "completely convinced that" or "absolutely certain that" in professional communications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally sure that" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a subject by expressing a state of complete certainty. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with real-world examples demonstrating its role in conveying assurance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "totally sure that" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a high degree of certainty. Ludwig AI analysis shows that it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with less common usage in formal or academic settings. While generally acceptable, writers should consider the formality of their audience and choose more precise alternatives like "completely certain" when appropriate. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase effectively conveys confidence, but its casual tone may not always be suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely certain that

Emphasizes the completeness of certainty, slightly stronger than "totally sure".

absolutely positive that

Highlights the lack of doubt with a strong affirmative.

entirely convinced that

Focuses on the state of being persuaded fully, shifting the emphasis to belief.

utterly confident that

Stresses complete assurance, highlighting a feeling of strong belief.

definitely certain that

Uses an adverb to reinforce certainty.

unequivocally sure that

Adds a formal tone, indicating there's no ambiguity or doubt.

unquestionably certain that

Similar to unequivocally, suggesting certainty beyond any question.

firmly believe that

Shifts the focus from being sure to holding a strong belief.

positive without a doubt that

Incorporates the lack of doubt explicitly into the expression.

assured that without reservation

Formally expresses certainty with no hesitations.

FAQs

How can I use "totally sure that" in a sentence?

You can use "totally sure that" to express complete confidence or certainty, as in "I am "totally sure that" we'll meet the deadline".

What can I say instead of "totally sure that"?

You can use alternatives like "completely certain that", "absolutely positive that", or "entirely convinced that" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "pretty sure that" or "totally sure that"?

"Pretty sure that" implies a moderate level of confidence, while ""totally sure that"" indicates complete certainty. The choice depends on how confident you are.

What's the difference between "totally sure that" and "completely sure that"?

While similar, "completely sure that" might be perceived as slightly more formal than ""totally sure that"", but both convey a high degree of certainty.