work totally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work totally" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It could be used informally to emphasize that something is functioning completely or effectively, but it is not commonly accepted. Example: "I hope the new software will work totally without any glitches."

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

I used to get home from work totally exhausted.

The New Yorker

"I work totally in the present -- from present to present".

The New York Times

He said that he returned to work "totally refreshed" and that his clients were not upset by his absence.

The New York Times

The nominee: Santorum needs to work totally against character here: how about "The Ruler's Back" from "The Great Adventures of Slick Rick"?

The New Yorker

"Further, the announcement this week of a national minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds will work totally against this objective by encouraging young people to leave education and training and enter early employment rather than improving their skills.

The Guardian - Money

Sehgal said later, "I wanted to reiterate, for my sake, that they don't just tell the guards, 'Oh, you can do this in addition to your regular duties.' " Sehgal said that once, in Japan, some employees had not been properly trained, and "the work totally disintegrated".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Like the painters, Minimalist sculptors attempted to make their works totally objective, unexpressive, and non-referential.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Poet and experimental printmaker, he was a visionary, creating his works totally outside the mainstream of art history.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One whole floor (the top one) works totally as an integrated installation, and there are strong sections on the two other floors.

The New York Times - Arts

One whole floor (the top one) works totally as an integrated installation, and there are strong sections on the other two floors.

The New York Times - Arts

The service works totally on the server side, so its download performance is higher than home connections.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "work totally", consider whether a more precise adverb like "completely", "flawlessly", or "effectively" might strengthen your writing.

Common error

While understandable, "work totally" can sound informal. In professional or academic writing, opt for alternatives such as "function completely" or "operate successfully" to maintain a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work totally" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "work" acts as the main verb and "totally" modifies it, indicating the extent or completeness of the action. Ludwig indicates that it is an acceptable, though not necessarily preferred, construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "work totally" signifies something functioning completely or effectively. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig suggests it's not always the most refined choice, particularly in formal settings. It's most frequently found in news and media, and less common in academic or business contexts. For more formal writing, consider alternatives such as "function completely" or "operate successfully". Ludwig's analysis points to its utility in emphasizing full functionality, but also highlights the importance of choosing the most appropriate wording based on the context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work flawlessly

Implies smooth and error-free operation, replacing "totally" with "flawlessly".

function completely

Replaces "work" with "function" and "totally" with "completely", providing a more formal alternative.

operate fully

Uses "operate" in place of "work" and "fully" instead of "totally", conveying a sense of complete functionality.

perform perfectly

Substitutes "work" with "perform" and "totally" with "perfectly", emphasizing flawless execution.

be fully effective

Rephrases the idea to focus on the effectiveness of the action, rather than just the act of working.

be entirely functional

Focuses on the state of being functional, using "entirely" to intensify the completeness.

run flawlessly

Implies smooth and error-free operation, replacing "work" with "run" for a more dynamic feel.

function without issues

Emphasizes the absence of problems during operation, offering a more descriptive alternative.

operate successfully

Shifts the focus to the successful outcome of the operation, rather than its completeness.

be completely operational

Highlights the operational status, using "completely" to ensure full functionality is understood.

FAQs

What does "work totally" mean?

"Work totally" generally means to function completely or effectively, without any issues or limitations. It implies a state of full operational capacity.

Is it correct to say "work totally"?

While not incorrect, "work totally" is less formal. Alternatives like "function completely" or "operate successfully" might be more appropriate for formal writing.

What can I say instead of "work totally"?

You can use phrases such as "function completely", "operate fully", or "perform perfectly" depending on the specific context.

How can I make my writing sound more professional than using "work totally"?

Choose alternatives that convey precision and formality, such as "be fully effective" or "be entirely functional". These options provide a more polished tone.