very innocent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very innocent" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone or something that is completely free from guilt or wrongdoing. Example: "The young girl had a very innocent demeanor, with wide eyes and a perpetual smile."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Although, software piracy's origins are very innocent in nature, before pirated material became hot property, before the widespread use of the Internet, and even before laptops and CDs.

Software Piracy Exposed

I was very innocent.

Independent

"Very innocent, very free.

The New Yorker

"I'm a very innocent man.

Independent

It was very innocent.

The New York Times - Magazine

I had a very innocent childhood.

The Guardian - Books

He's very innocent and sweet-natured.

The New York Times - Magazine

It all was very innocent, of course.

The New York Times

"Fireworks are very innocent," she said.

The Guardian

"He's very innocent, very full of energy, very loving.

The New York Times

It just shows that we were very innocent.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very innocent" to describe someone or something that is completely free from any wrongdoing or malicious intent. It's effective in legal contexts or when emphasizing a lack of culpability.

Common error

Avoid using "very innocent" to describe complex or morally ambiguous situations. It can oversimplify the nuances and undermine the credibility of your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very innocent" primarily functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun. It intensifies the quality of innocence, indicating a heightened state of being free from guilt or wrongdoing. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very innocent" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase to intensify the state of being innocent. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides many examples across various contexts, primarily in news and media. When writing, consider using it to stress a lack of culpability or malicious intent, but be mindful of oversimplifying complex situations. Alternatives include "completely blameless" or "entirely naive", depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely blameless

Emphasizes the absence of responsibility or fault.

entirely naive

Focuses on a lack of awareness or understanding of the world.

utterly guileless

Highlights a lack of deception or cunning.

perfectly pure

Suggests a state of moral cleanliness and freedom from corruption.

wholly unsullied

Implies a lack of damage or corruption from external influences.

remarkably unworldly

Indicates a lack of experience with the practical aspects of life.

exceptionally uncorrupted

Stresses the resistance to negative influences or temptations.

genuinely artless

Emphasizes the absence of artificiality or pretense.

truly impeccable

Focuses on flawless behavior or character.

absolutely harmless

Highlights the inability to cause harm or offense.

FAQs

How can I use "very innocent" in a sentence?

You can use "very innocent" to describe a person's character, as in "She has a "very innocent" demeanor", or to describe an action or event, suggesting it was unintentional or harmless.

What are some alternatives to saying "very innocent"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "completely blameless", "entirely naive", or "utterly guileless". Each phrase offers a slightly different shade of meaning.

Is it redundant to say "very innocent", or is it grammatically sound?

Saying "very innocent" is grammatically sound. While "innocent" can imply a complete lack of guilt or wrongdoing, using "very" emphasizes the degree of innocence.

What's the difference between "very innocent" and "relatively innocent"?

"Very innocent" implies a high degree of freedom from guilt or wrongdoing. "Relatively innocent", on the other hand, suggests a lesser degree of culpability compared to others or another situation.