totally unprofessional

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally unprofessional" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe behavior that is unacceptable in a professional environment. For example, "John was late to the meeting again and made a rude comment. His behavior was totally unprofessional."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

"It is totally unprofessional.

Independent

That would be so totally unprofessional.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's totally unprofessional and uncalled for".

The New York Times

Rooting is totally unprofessional from a sports columnist.

The New York Times - Sports

I said, 'That was incredible.' He replied, 'That was totally unprofessional.' He was really cross".

Independent

I acknowledge that my actions were totally unprofessional, with or without provocation".

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

It is wholly unprofessional".

BBC

"I think it's totally unfair and unprofessional from the IBF, because Tyson was crowned champion only on Saturday," Fury added.

Independent

"It was a totally unnecessary and unprofessional sending off.

BBC

The Federal Reserve's recent warning about excessive real estate lending was "totally inappropriate and unprofessional," Ziman avers.

Forbes

The site design is totally unpretentious without looking unprofessional, too, I like that.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing conduct as "totally unprofessional", be specific about the actions that warrant this description. Providing concrete examples strengthens your assessment and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "totally unprofessional" in overly casual settings. Opt for less formal alternatives like "inappropriate" or "out of line" to maintain a balanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally unprofessional" functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "unprofessional". According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English, typically used to describe unacceptable behavior in a professional environment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "totally unprofessional" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to strongly criticize behavior that deviates from expected professional standards. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely accepted and understood in various contexts. Analysis reveals its prevalence in News & Media, Formal & Business communications, and even Science, indicating versatility across different registers. While effective, consider tailoring your word choice to match the formality of the situation. For instance, alternatives like "completely unprofessional" or "highly inappropriate" may be more suitable in certain instances. When using "totally unprofessional", be sure to provide specific details about the concerning behavior to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely unprofessional

Replaces "totally" with "completely" maintaining similar intensity and meaning.

utterly unprofessional

Substitutes "totally" with "utterly", emphasizing the extent of unprofessionalism.

entirely unprofessional

Uses "entirely" instead of "totally", indicating a complete lack of professionalism.

absolutely unprofessional

Employs "absolutely" to intensify the description of unprofessional behavior.

wholly unprofessional

Replaces "totally" with "wholly" emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the lack of professionalism.

thoroughly unprofessional

Suggests a pervasive and deep-rooted lack of professionalism.

highly inappropriate

Shifts focus from professionalism to the inappropriateness of the behavior.

completely out of line

Indicates that the behavior crossed acceptable boundaries.

grossly inappropriate

Emphasizes the significant level of inappropriateness.

plainly unethical

Focuses on the ethical aspect of the behavior, suggesting it violates ethical standards.

FAQs

What does "totally unprofessional" mean?

The phrase "totally unprofessional" describes behavior that is unacceptable and inappropriate in a professional setting. It suggests a significant departure from expected standards of conduct.

What can I say instead of "totally unprofessional"?

You can use alternatives like "completely unprofessional", "utterly unprofessional", or "highly inappropriate" depending on the context.

How to use "totally unprofessional" in a sentence?

Example: "His behavior during the meeting was "totally unprofessional", marked by interruptions and disrespectful comments."

Is "totally unprofessional" a formal or informal expression?

While widely understood, "totally unprofessional" leans towards a neutral register. In extremely formal contexts, consider more sophisticated alternatives like "entirely inappropriate" or "completely lacking in professional decorum".