was completely understandable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was completely understandable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something was clear and easy to comprehend in a past context. Example: "After the explanation, her response was completely understandable, given the complexity of the topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Their position was completely understandable: An insurance company has an obligation to its shareholders.

The New York Times

What he did was completely understandable, as common sense dictates that having credit cards could be problematic.

The New York Times

"Look," he said, " 'Portnoy's Complaint' was published ten years after 'Defender of the Faith,' in 1969, and the Jewish reaction to it was completely understandable.

The New Yorker

While Varoufakis's plan to create a parallel payments system based on the country's tax register was certainly unorthodox, it was completely understandable.

The Guardian - Opinion

United were 3-1 up and, at that stage, through to the semi-finals, so their adoption of a 4-4-1, conceding territorial possession, was completely understandable.

The Guardian - Sport

Of course, psychologically, this is easier said than done, which is precisely why it's so hard to be a successful long-term investor, and why Bartiromo's question was completely understandable.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

That is completely understandable.

The New York Times - Sports

It's completely understandable".

The New York Times

"It's completely understandable," he added.

The New York Times

Both of which phenomena are completely understandable.

The New York Times

What both sides are doing is completely understandable.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was completely understandable" to convey empathy or agreement with a past action or decision. It's particularly effective when acknowledging a difficult situation or choice.

Common error

Avoid using "was completely understandable" too frequently in your writing. While it's a useful expression, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "made perfect sense" or "was entirely reasonable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was completely understandable" functions as a subjective assessment, indicating that a past action, situation, or feeling was easily comprehensible and justifiable. Ludwig provides examples of this usage, showing its role in expressing empathy or agreement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was completely understandable" serves as a tool for expressing empathy, agreement, or justification. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and showcases its usage across diverse contexts, predominantly within news and media. While "was understandable" conveys a general level of comprehension, adding "completely" intensifies the sentiment. To avoid redundancy in writing, alternatives like "was entirely reasonable" or "made perfect sense" can be employed. Understanding the nuances of this phrase and its alternatives will enhance your communication skills, allowing you to effectively convey comprehension and validation in various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was perfectly comprehensible

Replaces "completely understandable" with "perfectly comprehensible", emphasizing clarity.

was completely justified under the circumstances

Adds context, emphasizing the circumstances that made something understandable.

was entirely reasonable

Substitutes "understandable" with "reasonable", focusing on the logical justification.

was fully justified

Replaces "understandable" with "justified", highlighting the validity of an action or belief.

made perfect sense

Uses a more informal expression to convey that something was easily understood.

was easily grasped

Focuses on the ease of understanding, replacing "understandable" with "grasped".

was readily apparent

Shifts the emphasis to the obviousness of something rather than the understanding of it.

could be easily explained

Highlights the ability to explain something simply, implying understandability.

was beyond reproach

Focuses on the blameless nature of something, suggesting its actions were justified and thus understandable.

requires no explanation

Indicates that something is so obvious that it doesn't need to be understood.

FAQs

How can I use "was completely understandable" in a sentence?

Use "was completely understandable" to express that a past action, feeling, or decision was easy to comprehend or justify. For example, "Given the circumstances, her reaction "was completely understandable"".

What are some alternatives to "was completely understandable"?

Alternatives include "was entirely reasonable", "made perfect sense", or "was perfectly comprehensible", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever inappropriate to use "was completely understandable"?

While generally appropriate, be mindful of contexts where empathy might be misconstrued as condoning harmful behavior. In such cases, consider rephrasing to acknowledge understanding without necessarily agreeing.

What's the difference between "was understandable" and "was completely understandable"?

"Was understandable" implies a general level of comprehension, while "was completely understandable" emphasizes a higher degree of clarity and justification. The addition of "completely" intensifies the sentiment.