Acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Acceptable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that meets a certain standard or is satisfactory in a given context. Example: "The proposal was deemed acceptable by the committee after several revisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I am accountable for the railways and the performance [over Christmas] was not acceptable so I have decided that I should not take my bonus this year," he told Sky News.

The Guardian

Her argument was to question why it is acceptable to discuss spending billions on HS2 to create links and work opportunities, but not on childcare.

The Guardian - Opinion

Tony Bunyan, director of Statewatch, which documents European justice and home affairs policies, added: "The government's justification for not participating in Triton is cynical and an abdication of responsibility by saying that not helping to rescue people fleeing from war, persecution and poverty who are likely to perish is an acceptable way to discourage immigration".

The Guardian

Levels of customer service are still probably the worst of any European capital, but truly egregious rudeness and aggression are now the exception rather than the norm, as a whole generation of Muscovites who have travelled the world no longer find surly, Soviet-style service acceptable at home.

The Guardian

I don't think having [the SNP] pulling the strings in the government of the country when they want to pull the country apart is acceptable to many people".

The Guardian

The trolls have to post the photographs together with information they can pull from a website marketed as a "patriotic Russian Wikipedia", featuring ideologically acceptable versions of world events.

The Guardian

That announcement was also the source of Twitter's infamous "quadrant" guidance, when the company attempted to explain which uses of its API were acceptable, and which weren't.

The Guardian - Tech

It is not acceptable to say 'we don't have enough funding and training'.

The Guardian

"There is a critical difference between staunchly supporting expression that violates the acceptable, and enthusiastically rewarding such expression," the letter reads.

The Guardian - Books

She quotes Oscar Wilde – "The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it" – and, she adds, "He really was the person in a position to say that – he knew that history had to be remade, because only certain narratives deliver themselves as acceptable, dominant narratives".

The Guardian - Books

She won't really be drawn on whether the focus on the Welsh language has hampered Plaid's success in the Valleys ("Certainly the Welsh language has been used as a stick to beat Plaid Cymru with by our opponents, in a very dangerous way, actually, and an irresponsible way. I don't think that's acceptable"), nor on anti-English sentiment within the party.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Acceptable" to indicate something meets a specific standard or requirement without necessarily being outstanding. It implies a level of satisfaction or agreement, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "Acceptable" is versatile, avoid overusing it in highly formal documents where more precise terms like "satisfactory", "suitable", or "admissible" might better convey the intended nuance.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "acceptable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something as capable or worthy of being accepted or satisfactory. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where "acceptable" qualifies different nouns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acceptable" functions primarily as an adjective to denote something that meets a certain standard or is satisfactory. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread, particularly in news and formal contexts. While versatile, it is best to avoid overusing it in highly formal settings where alternatives may provide more precise meaning. This guide offers insights into its correct usage, common errors to avoid, and related phrases to enrich your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Satisfactory

Indicates that something meets the minimum requirements or expectations; less strong than "Acceptable".

Suitable

Signifies that something is right or appropriate for a particular purpose or situation.

Appropriate

Suggests that something is fitting or proper in a given context.

Tolerable

Implies that something is bearable or endurable, even if not ideal.

Admissible

Suggests that something is allowed or permitted, especially in a formal setting.

Permissible

Indicates that something is allowed by a rule or law; similar to admissible.

Worthy

Implies that something deserves or merits acceptance or approval.

Agreeable

Signifies that something is pleasing or willing to be agreed upon; emphasizes consent.

Allowable

Similar to permissible, but may imply a degree of flexibility or discretion.

Passable

Indicates something is just good enough, but not excellent.

FAQs

How can I use "Acceptable" in a sentence?

You can use "Acceptable" to describe something that meets the required standards or is satisfactory in a specific context. For instance, "The terms of the agreement were "acceptable" to both parties."

What are some alternatives to the word "Acceptable"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "satisfactory", "suitable", or "admissible". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "more acceptable" or "most acceptable"?

Both "more acceptable" and "most acceptable" are grammatically correct. "More acceptable" is used for comparing two options, while "most acceptable" indicates the highest degree of acceptability among three or more options.

What is the difference between "Acceptable" and "Adequate"?

"Acceptable" generally implies that something meets a certain standard and is approved of or agreed upon. "Adequate"/"adequate", on the other hand, means that something is just sufficient to meet a requirement, which could still be insufficient but enough.