utterly excellent

USAGE SUMMARY

"utterly excellent" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to convey a strong sense of admiration or praise for something. Example: "The performance was utterly excellent, with the actors delivering their lines flawlessly and the special effects leaving the audience in awe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Despite or because of how much I loved "A Visit From the Goon Squad," I found myself wondering how to do it justice, especially in light of my fellow clubbers' utterly excellent takes: Jon's reference to Jack Gilbert's poem "After Love," Sally's comparison of the book to an album, and Vicky's honest, lovely writing.

The New Yorker

In The Ungrateful Country, poet and author Musa Okwonga explores how he discovered that being utterly excellent – the son of two Ugandan refugees, he was a brilliant student and ended up going to Eton – working twice as hard as his white counterparts and "being as hardworking and as agreeable as possible" would never be enough to change his peers' perceptions of black people.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The opening passage in Myles Palmer's excellent, utterly besotted book The Professor, published in the hazy glory days of 2001, captures the shock of first contact.

The Guardian - Sport

It's hard to compete with "excellent and utterly irresistible," as the 1959 Cheval Blanc was described in a recent review.

The New Yorker

With Michael Rafferty conducting, the performances, led by Johnny Herford as the uncomprehending and finally utterly resigned Josef, are all excellent.

The Guardian - Music

The proposed method results in utterly homogenous and mechanically stable coatings with excellent adhesion to the substrate as compared to the other commonly used solution-based methods.

Polymer

Whatever, Lewis is excellent, with heaps of kingly swagger, utterly convincing, though not centre stage this time.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The preamble continues with some utterly forgettable sentiments about civilisation, culture, prosperity and other excellent ideas, and ends with a vote of thanks to none other than Mr Giscard d'Estaing and his colleagues.

The Economist

What rivets the rider's attention is the excellent high-speed stability and agility of this überboxer, the utterly contemporary feel despite its seemingly dated architecture.

The New York Times

While the scriptwriters fail utterly in the art of storytelling, the movie shows that they would make excellent game designers.

The New York Times - Tech

Much of the acting, however, is first-rate: Jane Horrocks is excellent as Ella, by turns ferocious and cowed, and the actors playing the children are utterly convincing.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To create emphasis and avoid overusing the word excellent in your writing, use alternatives phrases like "absolutely superb" or "completely outstanding".

Common error

While acceptable, "utterly excellent" might sound too enthusiastic for highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more restrained language unless the context specifically calls for strong emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly excellent" functions as an intensified adjective phrase. It modifies a noun, expressing a high degree of quality. Ludwig shows examples where it describes performances, books, or abstract qualities like adhesion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "utterly excellent" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to express strong admiration or approval. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and notes that while it is appropriate in many contexts, it may be perceived as too enthusiastic for strictly formal or scientific writing. The phrase appears more frequently in News & Media sources than in others. To create emphasis and add variety, it's recommended to use alternative phrases like "absolutely superb" or "completely outstanding". Keep in mind the context and the audience when employing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely superb

Similar in conveying exceptional quality, but uses "superb" instead of "excellent".

completely outstanding

Replaces "excellent" with "outstanding", emphasizing remarkable quality.

totally magnificent

Uses "magnificent" to highlight grandeur and impressiveness.

thoroughly remarkable

Emphasizes the noteworthy and exceptional nature, using "remarkable".

perfectly wonderful

Employs "wonderful", suggesting a delightful and pleasing quality.

exceptionally brilliant

Highlights intellectual or creative superiority with "brilliant".

unquestionably first-rate

Affirms top quality without doubt, using "first-rate".

genuinely exceptional

Highlights that the quality is authentic and superior.

remarkably impressive

Focuses on the characteristic of causing admiration.

positively sublime

Uses the word "sublime" suggesting something of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual value.

FAQs

How can I use "utterly excellent" in a sentence?

You can use "utterly excellent" to describe something of very high quality or that you greatly admire. For example, "The performance was utterly excellent".

What are some alternatives to "utterly excellent"?

Alternatives include "absolutely superb", "completely outstanding", or "totally magnificent". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "utterly excellent" too informal for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "utterly excellent" might be perceived as too enthusiastic for some academic contexts. Consider the tone and audience of your writing and choose more formal alternatives if necessary.

What makes "utterly excellent" different from just saying "excellent"?

Adding "utterly" intensifies the adjective, conveying a stronger sense of approval or admiration. It emphasizes that something is not just good, but exceptionally so.