with total honesty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with total honesty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when emphasizing the sincerity or truthfulness of a statement or opinion. Example: "I want to speak with total honesty about my feelings regarding the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But whatever the reason, people would ask what I was up to and whether I ever got lonely, to which I always replied, with total honesty, never.

The Guardian - Travel

He imagined an alternative reality so believable that he could later say with total honesty that alone at sea he tasted the greatest meals of his life and experienced the most delicious sex.

The Guardian

You have to reach out to them with total honesty and humility.

Huffington Post

"The words seemed to flow naturally from the music, and came out with total honesty.

Wikipedia

If I do not become a person who radiates joy, or shares a journey with total honesty, then my art will fail.

Huffington Post

And watching him defend the rights of children in the courts, I would say with total honesty that when it comes to children, Alexei is the real hero of the day".

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"If there is a quality overlooked in his writing by some of the more obtuse commentators," he wrote, "it is that gentleness, coupled with a total honesty on every plane and an utter freedom from anything cruel, cheap or mean".

The New York Times - Books

The bareness of style and absence of ornament oblige the reader to an active imaginative collaboration, endowing Laish's account with a feeling of total honesty, of being impelled by the pressures of circumstance, not elaborated beforehand, almost improvised.

The New York Times - Books

Total honesty with your spouse is overrated.

Huffington Post

We took a little break and after a bit, we decided to try again -- but with the condition of total honesty.

Huffington Post

Running is my area of total honesty".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with total honesty" to preface a statement when you want to assure your audience of your complete sincerity and lack of deception.

Common error

Avoid using "with total honesty" excessively, as it can diminish its impact and make you sound insincere. Use it sparingly for emphasis when needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with total honesty" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which something is said or done. It emphasizes the sincerity and truthfulness of a statement, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

21%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

9%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "with total honesty" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for emphasizing the truthfulness of a statement. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides various examples across different contexts, from news articles to personal blogs. While the phrase is not exceedingly common, appearing with "Uncommon" frequency in the data, its use is impactful when you wish to convey absolute sincerity. Alternatives such as "in all honesty" or "to be perfectly honest" offer similar emphasis with slight variations in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in all honesty

This alternative is a shorter, more direct way of expressing sincerity.

with genuine honesty

This alternative adds emphasis on the authenticity of the honesty.

to be perfectly honest

This alternative is a common introductory phrase to emphasize sincerity.

with complete frankness

This alternative emphasizes openness and candor in communication.

in all sincerity

This alternative replaces honesty with sincerity emphasizing the genuine nature of the expression.

with utter sincerity

This alternative highlights the genuine nature of the expression.

candidly speaking

This alternative highlights the straightforward and unreserved nature of the communication.

in absolute truth

This alternative stresses the veracity and accuracy of the statement.

in plain truth

This alternative emphasizes clarity and lack of embellishment in the statement.

speaking truthfully

This alternative focuses on the act of conveying truthful information.

FAQs

How can I use "with total honesty" in a sentence?

You can use "with total honesty" to introduce a statement or opinion where you want to emphasize your sincerity. For example, "With total honesty, I don't think this plan will work."

What can I say instead of "with total honesty"?

You can use alternatives like "in all honesty", "to be perfectly honest", or "with utter sincerity" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "with total honesty"?

While "honesty" implies completeness, adding "total" emphasizes the absolute nature of your truthfulness. The redundancy is often used for rhetorical effect.

What's the difference between "with total honesty" and "with brutal honesty"?

"With total honesty" simply means being truthful. "With brutal honesty" implies being truthful even if the truth is harsh or unpleasant.