Definitely vs. Totally

Attribute	Definitely	Totally
Definition	Without doubt or question	Completely or entirely
Usage	Often used to express certainty or assurance	Commonly used to emphasize completeness or entirety
Intensity	Strong emphasis on certainty	Strong emphasis on completeness
Examples	"I definitely want to go to the concert."	"I totally forgot about our meeting."

Definition

Definitely and totally are both adverbs that are used to emphasize certainty or completeness in a statement. However, they are not interchangeable in all contexts. Definitely is often used to express a strong affirmation or confirmation, while totally is used to convey a sense of completeness or entirety.

Usage

Definitely is commonly used to indicate a high degree of certainty or assurance in a statement. For example, "I will definitely be there on time" implies a strong commitment to punctuality. On the other hand, totally is often used to emphasize completeness or full agreement. For instance, "I totally agree with your assessment" indicates complete agreement with someone's opinion.

Intensifiers

Both definitely and totally can function as intensifiers to add emphasis to a statement. When used in this way, they can strengthen the meaning of the sentence. For example, "I definitely need to finish this project today" emphasizes the urgency of completing the task. Similarly, "I totally forgot about our meeting" highlights the complete lack of memory regarding the appointment.

Formality

Definitely is often considered more formal than totally in certain contexts. It is commonly used in professional or academic settings to convey a strong sense of certainty or assurance. On the other hand, totally is generally more informal and is frequently used in casual conversations or everyday speech. For example, "I definitely believe we can achieve our goals" sounds more formal than "I totally think we can do it."

Emphasis

While both definitely and totally can be used to emphasize a point, they may convey slightly different nuances in meaning. Definitely tends to emphasize the certainty or conviction of a statement, while totally emphasizes the completeness or entirety of a situation. For instance, "I definitely want to go to the concert" emphasizes the speaker's strong desire to attend the event, while "I totally forgot about the concert" highlights the complete lack of memory regarding the event.

Frequency

Definitely is often used more frequently than totally in everyday speech. It is a common adverb that is used to express certainty or assurance in a wide range of contexts. Totally, on the other hand, may be used less frequently but is still a popular adverb for emphasizing completeness or agreement. Both words are versatile and can be used in various situations to add emphasis to a statement.